Ganga Reddy Velma
Also known as: Ganga Reddy Velma
University of Arizona, RMIT University, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Osmania University, S.S.R. Degree College
Research areas: Chemistry · Organic Chemistry · Synthesis and biological activity · Synthesis and Characterization of Heterocyclic Compounds · Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
0000-0001-5054-2519
About
Medicinal chemist and drug discovery scientist with over 13 years of experience in the design, synthesis, and optimization of small-molecule therapeutics for cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, infectious diseases, and metabolic diseases.
Currently serving as Assistant Research Professor at the University of Arizona, where I lead medicinal chemistry efforts across multidisciplinary drug discovery programs focused on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), Alzheimer's disease, SARS-CoV-2 antiviral therapeutics, and metabolic disorders.
My expertise spans hit identification, lead optimization, structure-based drug design, medicinal chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, SAR analysis, DMPK optimization, and translational drug discovery. I have contributed to multiple drug candidates advancing toward preclinical development and have extensive experience collaborating with biologists, pharmacologists, computational chemists, and CRO partners.
Key accomplishments:
• 45+ peer-reviewed publications, including several in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
• Inventor on multiple patent applications and granted patents.
• First-author publications in high-impact medicinal chemistry journals.
• Lead contributor to multidisciplinary projects targeting NAMPT, MLK3, PARP1, PLpro, ABCA1, and other therapeutic targets.
• Writing NIH, DoD, and foundation grant proposals as PI, MPI, and co-investigator.
• Mentor and supervise graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Research interests include medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, chemical biology, oncology, neurodegeneration, antiviral therapeutics, structure-guided drug design, and translational medicine.
Employment
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University of Arizona Assistant Research Professor2026 - Present
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University of Arizona Researcher/Scientist III2023 - 2026
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The University of Arizona Postdoctoral Research Associate2021 - 2023
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RMIT University Visiting Research Fellow2018 - 2020
Education
- 2013 - 2019
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Osmania University Masters2009 - 2011
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S.S.R. Degree College B.Sc2006 - 2009
Projects & Funding
Projects & funding information is unavailable.
Publications (57)
- Discovery of Epoxysuccinates as Potent Covalent Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease Save
- Design and Synthesis of Combretastatin A4‐Chalcone Hybrids as Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors Save
- Mixed Lineage Kinase Suppression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Identification of a Dual Inhibitor Targeting MLK3 and NAMPT Save
- Exploration of precision coregulator TR-FRET identifies diverse signatures for LXR ligands relevant to discovery of nonlipogenic ABCA1 inducers Save
- (E)-4-(4-Acrylamidophenoxy)-N-Methylpicolinamides as b-Raf/VEGFR-2 Inhibitors with Antiangiogenic Activity in HUVEC and Zebrafish Model Save
- Discovery of the SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease Inhibitor MR1–114: From Structure-Based Design to In Vivo Antiviral Efficacy Save
- FDA-Approved Fluorine-Containing Molecules in 2024: Significance, Synthesis, and Therapeutic Applications Save
- Exploration of precision coregulator TR-FRET identifies diverse signatures for LXR ligands relevant to discovery of nonlipogenic ABCA1 inducers Save
- Fluorine-containing FDA-approved small-molecule drugs in 2025: significance, synthetic insights, and therapeutic applications Save
- Nitrogen-containing FDA-approved drugs in 2025: synthesis, significance and therapeutic applications Save
- Synthesis and anti-proliferative activity of new E7010 tethered urea congeners as potential tubulin inhibitors and apoptosis inducers Save
- Chimeric Inhibitors of Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP1) and Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) for Cancer Therapy Save
- Para‐Toluenesulfonic Acid‐Catalyzed Green Synthesis of Pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines from 5‐Aminopyrazoles and Terminal Keto‐Alkynes Save
- Gold(I) somplexes of the type [AuL{κC-2-C6H4P(S)Ph2}] [L = PTA, PPh3, PPh2(C6H4-3-SO3Na) and PPh2(2-py)]: Synthesis, characterisation, crystal structures, and In Vitro and In Vivo anticancer properties Save
- In search of nonlipogenic ABCA1 inducers (NLAI): precision coregulator TR-FRET identifies diverse signatures for LXR ligands Save
- Nonlipogenic ABCA1 Inducers (NLAI) for Alzheimer’s Disease Validated in a Mouse Model Expressing Human APOE3/APOE4 Save
- Non-Covalent Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease (PLpro): In Vitro and In Vivo Antiviral Activity Save
- Channeling Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) to Address Life and Death Save
- Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Positive Allosteric Modulators Attenuate Neuronal Oxidative Stress Save
- Mechanism of Allosteric Modulation of Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase to Elevate Cellular NAD+ Save