• Targeting Ferroptosis in Cancer and Neurodegeneration

• Covalent Probes for Selective Modification of Amino Acids

• Small-Molecule Inducers of Lipid Droplets

• Targeted Protein Degradation: PROTACs & Molecular Glues

Overview:

We are a chemical biology lab exploring oxidative lipid metabolism to drive lipid droplet accumulation. We pursue ferroptosis as a therapeutic vulnerability in cancer and neurodegeneration. Our work centers on the design of covalent chemical probes and small-molecule modulators that reprogram cellular pathways through precise protein modification. Combining chemical proteomics, mass spectrometry, and mechanism-driven screening, we uncover novel targets, decipher small molecule–protein interactions, and develop first-in-class ferroptosis inducers and inhibitors.

Our goal is to transform chemical tools into next-generation therapeutics through innovation at the chemistry–biology interface.

• Small molecule promoters of endogenous lipid droplet accumulation drive lysophagy Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., (2025, 202504595)

• Tuning isatoic anhydrides’ lysine ligation chemistry for bioconjugation and drug delivery Cell Rep Phys Sci. (2024, 5, 102260)

• Redox Modulator Iron Complexes Trigger Intrinsic Apoptosis Pathway in Cancer Cells iScience (2024, 6, 109899)

• Diazepam-based covalent modifiers of GPX4 induce ferroptosis in liver cancer cells Chem. Comm. (2024, 60, 1928-1931)

• Nitroisobenzofuranone, a small molecule inhibitor of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus targets peptidoglycan biosynthesis Chem. Comm. (2022, 58, 11669-11672)

• Accumulation of 8, 9-unsaturated sterols drives oligodendrocyte formation and remyelination Nature (2018, 560, 372-376)

• Diverse chemical scaffolds enhance oligodendrocyte formation by inhibiting CYP51, TM7SF2, or EBP, Cell Chem. Biol. (2018)

• 2-Chloropropionamide as a low-reactivity electrophile for irreversible small-molecule probe identification, ACS Chem. Biol. (2017, 12, 2124-2131)

• Mycobacterium tuberculosishas diminished capacity to counteract redox stress induced by elevated levels of endogenous superoxide, Free Rad. Biol. Med. (2015, 84, 344-354)

• Substituent effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by hydroquinones, J. Org. Chem. (2014, 79, 9413-9417)

• Arylboronate ester based diazeniumdiolates (BORO/NO), a class of hydrogen peroxide inducible nitric oxide (NO) donors, Org. Lett. (2014, 16, 2610-2613)

• A small molecule for controlled generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Org. Lett. (2014, 16, 398-401)

• Design, synthesis and evaluation of small molecule reactive oxygen species generators as selective Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibitors, Chem.Commun. (2012, 48, 10325-10327)

• Dow Chemical International Private Limited, Pune, 2007-2009

• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research-Pune, 2010-2015

• Case Western Reserve University-Ohio, 2015-2018

• Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, 2018-

Office

SL 206, Southern laboratories
Department of Chemistry
IIT Kanpur,
Kanpur 208016

Office Phone: 0512-259-2086

Email: atdharma[AT]iitk.ac.in