Thomas Dix, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Phone: 843-876-5092
Fax: 843-792-1617

e-mail: dixta@musc.edu

Pilot Grant - Evaluation of Neurotensin Analogues for Cocaine Addiction

Our research addresses the development and exploitation of novel strategies of rational drug design, with a focus on peptide-based therapeutics.  We have demonstrated dramatic improvements in the activities, stabilities, selectivities, and barrier-crossing efficiencies of peptide therapeutic candidates utilizing our strategies, which have been patented.  Therapeutic candidates under current development include antipsychotic, analgesic and antibacterial peptides; our strategies can be applied to virtually any peptide of therapeutic interest.  We also are developing biochemical tools such as receptor-specific peptide analogs, which then will be used to define the detailed physiological roles of individual members of receptor families.