Institute for Natural Products Research
The Institute for Natural Products Research, under the direction of Professor S. William Pelletier, carries out a program of fundamental studies in the interdisciplinary areas of analysis, chemistry, and pharmacognosy of naturally-occurring compounds of biological interest from plants and animals. Projects involve research on plant alkaloids, terpenes, insect pheromones, phytoalexins, antitumor agents, plant pigments, the synthesis of biologically-active natural products, and the application of modern spectroscopic methods to the elucidation of the molecular architecture of naturally-occurring compounds. The Institute's focus has involved the isolation, characterization, and elucidation of structures of new compounds of possible use as drugs for the treatment of human disease, especially those with anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer and CNS activity.
Despite more than two centuries of research, the search for new products from plants, insects, and animals has scarcely begun. Thousands of plant species remain to be examined and the exploration of marine organisms is in its infancy. The large number of terrestrial and marine flora and fauna yet to be explored present great opportunities for the isolation of new, medicinally useful compounds. The Institute serves as a training center for graduate students, visiting faculty and postdoctoral associates who are interested in advanced training in separation techniques and methods for structure elucidation of complex natural products.