Combinatorial Exploration of Transition Metal Complexes Against Neglected Tropical Diseases

• Grant number: 25/11163-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: September 15, 2025
• End date: September 14, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Camilla Abbehausen
• Grantee: Gustavo Clauss Rodrigues
• Supervisor: Angelo Frei
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of York, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/12657-6 - Computational analysis of [Au(L)X] complexes as targeted Leishmania metallodrugs, BP.DD

Abstract

Leishmaniasis, a life-threatening disease caused by Leishmania parasites, affectsaround 1 million people each year. Current treatments are costly, toxic, and show variableefficacy. This project aims to accelerate the discovery of new, effective therapies by exploringtransition metal-based drugs-compounds that have shown promise in fighting infectiousdiseases. Led by Dr. Angelo Frei, this project will test 300 metal complexes from a largerlibrary using high-throughput screening (HTS) methods. Promising compounds will be furtherrefined through machine learning to identify those with strong anti-parasitic activity and lowtoxicity. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous testing, including evaluation in animalmodels. This innovative approach will provide valuable data for predicting new compoundsand open a new pathway in the search for anti-leishmanial drugs, with the potential tosignificantly improve treatment options for those affected by the disease. (AU)