Peptide Synthesis

Research Focus

Leveraging state-of-the-art techniques and instrumentation in peptide synthesis to enable drug discovery across disease states using this rapidly emerging class of molecules.

Peptides have long been considered fascinating physiological hormones but without widespread therapeutic and industrial applicability, outside of extraordinary exceptions such as insulin and oxytocin. This perception was due in part to historic technical limitations in accessibility, scalability, stability and administration.

Continual advances over recent decades in peptide synthesis, optimization and delivery have unlocked a golden age of peptide drug discovery, with dozens of new peptide drugs making life-changing impacts for patients with diabetes, obesity, cancer, HIV, osteoporosis and many other common and rare diseases.

At the IBRI, we leverage state-of-the-art techniques and instrumentation in peptide synthesis to enable drug discovery across disease states utilizing this rapidly emerging class of molecules. We employ recent learnings in how to improve their specificity, stability and duration of action to create innovative leads for future therapeutics.

We also can chemically fuse peptides to each other, to small molecules, and to proteins in order to expand the mechanisms by which we can treat a disease.

In addition to our drug discovery efforts, we seek to provide on-demand access to high-purity, non-GxP peptide test substances at scales up to hundreds of milligrams, since affordable and reliable sources of such molecules remain elusive to many fellow life science researchers. Please contact us at the email address below if you are interested in learning more about how we could partner to address your peptide needs.

Staff Snapshot

Patrick Knerr, PhD

Patrick Knerr, PhD

Director of Metabolic Translational Research and Peptide Innovation

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2013
  • Bachelor of Science, University of Delaware, 2008

Collaborators

Scientists interested in working in Peptide Innovation or collaborating on research should contact Patrick Knerr.

Lab Positions

Please reach out to Patrick Knerr to learn about potential job opportunities.