Gabor Tigyi, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., professor and the Harriett Van Vleet Endowed Chair in Basic Oncology Research at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, visited the University of Florida College of Pharmacy April 28 to give a presentation as part of the Dr. Nicholas Bodor Distinguished Lectureship Series.
The lecture, titled “Small Molecule, Big Science: Drug Discovery Targeting Lysophospholipid Mediators,” introduced UF College of Pharmacy students, trainees and faculty to Tigyi’s work discovering lysophospholipid mediators and their biological targets. Before beginning his talk, Tigyi took a moment to reflect on his experiences speaking with graduate students earlier that day.
“A tremendous commitment to the field and discipline for the work was radiating from all of your eyes and words, so thank you,” Tigyi told the students.
Tigyi is the founder and chairman of the board of STEMDEN, Inc. and the chief scientific officer of RxBio, Inc. His discovery of lysophosphatidic acid, a well-recognized signaling molecule with broad biological significance, has led to numerous patents and contributed to the design of therapeutic candidates, including those targeting radiation injury and cancer. His research has appeared in 250 peer-reviewed publications, with nearly 20,000 citations.
The lecture ended with Tigyi posing a question to the room that also functioned as a lesson: “What happens if your compound doesn’t only act on the target it was designed to?” After the talk concluded, students engaged in a spirited dialogue with Tigyi, inquiring more about the knowledge he’s accumulated over his career bridging fundamental biology and translational medicine.
The lectureship series is named in honor of Nicholas Bodor, Ph.D., graduate research professor emeritus at the UF College of Pharmacy and former chair of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. As founder and CEO of Miami’s Bodor Laboratories, Bodor has garnered international recognition as a leader in drug discovery, design and delivery. He helped establish the Nicholas Bodor Professorship in Drug Discovery in 2007, and UF named the lectureship series in his honor in 2019. Held each spring, the lectureship series brings world-renowned scientists to the UF College of Pharmacy to share their expertise and discoveries with faculty, trainees and students.