Frank Kwarcinski, PhD

I am a highly driven research investigator committed to improving early-stage drug discovery efforts. I have extensive work experience in cell-based and biochemical assay development from my current University of Michigan Pharmacology appointment and from my four years of industry employment. My doctoral training centered on identifying and developing small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of kinase-dependent cancers. This fundamental research paradigm has continued to be of interest to me throughout my career, and I have expanded my target list to include work on adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (AGCPRs). This understudied family of GPCRs mediates critical cell–cell and cell–extracellular matrix contacts and when dysregulated, results in cancer or other neurological and immunological disorders.

Structural and biochemical characterization of adhesion GPCRs for activation mechanism and pathogenesis studies.
Examining G protein-coupled signaling pathways by determining the factors that regulate G protein folding and cellular abundance.
Assay development and identification of novel chemical inhibitors for both adhesion GPCRs and soluble protein targets involved in G protein signaling dysregulation.