Kunal Nepali is an Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. He has expertise spanning medicinal chemistry and organic synthesis with ten years of experience in a broad range of drug development projects (mainly centered on cancer). His research endeavors employ a rational structure-based drug design approach that lies at the interface of chemistry and biology to treat cellular processes. He is currently handling research projects funded by NSTC. Noteworthy to mention that Dr. Kunal was awarded Honorary Permanent Residency by the National immigration agency, Taiwan (Plum Blossom Card) in the year 2020 for his contributions to Science and Technology in Taiwan. In addition, Dr. Kunal was named as the top 2% scientist across the globe as per the list published by Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier.
The laboratory focuses on :
- Synthesis of small molecule inhibitors for diverse targets involved in cancer.
- Development and optimization of synthetic protocols (multistep synthetic routes) for bioactive compounds
- Synthesis of Small molecule inhibitors
- Development of synthetic methodologies dealing with various organic transformations, Multi component reactions, multistep synthesis
- Design of receptor/enzyme targeting anticancer agents
- Molecular catalysis, Microwave Assisted Synthesis
- Design and synthesis of receptor targeting molecules
- In-vitro evaluation of the designed and synthesised molecules
- Computational studies such molecular modelling studies for rationalization of
- Experimental results by docking of the active compounds with in the active site of the Receptors
- Isolation of Phytoconstituents from plant extracts
- Characterization of isolated Phytoconstitutents
- Structural Modification of Phytoconstitutents
- Total Synthesis of secondary metabolites
- Top 2% scientist for the year 2023 (List published by Stanford University and Elsevier).
- Top 2% scientist for the year 2022 (List published by Stanford University and Elsevier).
- Top 2% scientist for the year 2021 (List published by Stanford University and Elsevier).
- Honorary permanent residence awarded for contributions made in the field of medicinal chemistry by the government of Taiwan, 2020. (Plum blossom card).
- Outstanding Post Doctoral Fellow (Medicinal Chemistry), 2018, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
Project title: The use of organometallic reaction in the synthesis of anticancer agents (2/2)
6. Outstanding Post Doctoral Fellow (Medicinal Chemistry), 2017, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
Project title: The use of organometallic reaction in the synthesis of anticancer agents
7. Outstanding Post Doctoral Fellow (Medicinal Chemistry), 2016, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
Project title: Application of regioselective substitution on 1,4- Benzoquinone derivatives to provide potent anticancer agents
8. Outstanding Post Doctoral Fellow (Medicinal Chemistry), 2015, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
Project title: Preclinical development for novel HSP90 inhibitors as anticancer drugs
9. Outstanding Post Doctoral Fellow (Medicinal Chemistry), 2014, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
Project title: Development of ITCHE3 ubiquitin ligase inhibitors as anticancer drug
- 2012 Ph.D. ISF College of Pharmacy, Punjab, India
- 2008 M.S. ISF College of Pharmacy, Punjab, India