Molecules + medicines
Research in this area will advance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease through understanding of disease mechanisms at the cellular and molecular level; sophisticated, personalized diagnostic tests to determine causes and therapy; and new medical interventions and preventative measures using drugs, biologics and devices.
Select KU research in this area
![A graphic of coronavirus molecules next to a portrait of Anthony Fehr](/sites/research/files/images/2022/tony-fehr-coronavirus-lead.jpg)
KU lab leads research on little-studied coronavirus structure, developing treatment
University of Kansas virologist Anthony Fehr and his lab is researching the coronavirus macrodomain — an enzyme essential in causing disease — and creating an antiviral treatment targeting the enzyme.
![A group of Clara Biotech staff stands on stage holding two large checks](/sites/research/files/images/2021/clara-biotech-1.jpg)
Biotech company with KU roots wins national competition, secures funding
Clara Biotech refined a novel technology to isolate and purify exosomes, which can be used for early disease diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, cancer immunotherapy and more.
![A graphic of a coronavirus, with a photo of Scott Lovell on the right](/sites/research/files/images/2021/scott-lovell-infectious-disease-projects.jpg)
KU researcher part of teams developing treatments for COVID-19, other infectious diseases
Scott Lovell, director of KU’s Protein Structure & X-Ray Crystallography Lab, and three collaborators received a $3.7 million grant to develop an antiviral therapeutic treatment that could help people who have contracted SARS-CoV-2.
![Steven Soper and two researchers tour lab where COVID-19 test is made](/sites/research/files/images/2021/2004535_MK_SoperLabOnChipCovid.0316.jpg)
At home COVID-19 test developed at KU moves toward production
University of Kansas researchers, led by Steven Soper, have created an at-home rapid COVID-19 test using "lab on a chip" technology. They aim to launch the product in early 2022.
KU's strengths in this area
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
- Center for Chemical Biology of Infectious Diseases
- Center for Genomics
- Center for Molecular Analysis of Disease Pathways
- Department of Chemistry
- Institute for Information Sciences
- Institute for Bioengineering Research
- KU Cancer Center
- Molecular Biosciences
- School of Pharmacy
- Vaccine Analytics Formulation Center