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Blake Watkins

Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

About

E. Blake Watkins, Ph.D. received his B.S. degree from Â鶹ÊÓƵ University in 1994 and his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Georgia in 2000. His Ph.D. research was under the direction of Professor Robert S. Phillips and involved working on the synthesis of small molecule inhibitors of tyrosine phenol lyase. His post doctoral research, under the direction of Professor Mitchell A. Avery at the University of Mississippi, focused on the total synthesis of naturally occurring antifungal agents and ultrahigh pressure cyclization reactions. Prior to joining Â鶹ÊÓƵ University as Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Watkins worked as a Research Scientist and later as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Mississippi. He was also heavily involved in curricular development for the Regents School of Oxford, working to develop and implement a solid, classically Christian science and math curriculum, emphasizing “hands-on” learning with the goal of instilling a deep love for creation and its Creator.

Education

  • Ph.D, University of Georgia

  • B.S., Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

Scholarship

Books

  • Faith and Learning: A Handbook for Christian Higher Education (2012)

    B&H Academic

Articles

  • Rapid access to 3-substituted pyridines and carbolines via a domino, copper-free, palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling/6p-aza cyclization sequence (2021)

    J. Org. Chem.

  • Org. Chem. Front.

  • A simple, tandem approach to the construction of pyridine derivatives under metal-free conditions: a one-step synthesis of the monoterpene natural product, (–)-actinidine. (2019)

    ChemComm

  • Metal-catalyzed, bidentate directing group-assisted C-H functionalization—application to the synthesis of complex natural products. (2019)

    Studies in Natural Products Chemistry

  • A General Method for the Metal-free, Regioselective, Remote C-H Halogenation of 8-Substituted Quinolines (2018)

    Chem. Sci.

  • Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Inhibitors of the NADPH Oxidase, Nox4. (2018)

    Bioorg. Med. Chem.

  • A Unified Strategy for the Synthesis of ?-Carbolines, ?-Carbolines, and Other Fused Azaheteroaromatics under Mild, Metal-Free Conditions. (2018)

    Org. Lett.

  • Discovery and Therapeutic Relevance of Small-Molecule Nox4 Inhibitors. (2018)

    Medicinal Chemistry Reviews

  • Gram-scale, Stereoselective Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of (+)-Armillariol C (2017)

    J Nat. Prod.

  • Palladium-Catalyzed, N-(2-Aminophenyl) Acetamide-Assisted ortho-Arylation of Substituted Benzamides—Application to the Synthesis of Urolithins B, M6, and M7 (2017)

    J. Org. Chem.

  • Rh-Catalyzed, Regioselective, C H Bond Functionalization: Access to Quinoline-Branched Amines and Dimers (2016)

    Organic Letters

  • Context Dependent Activity of Solenopsin A and Analogs: Implications for Ceramide Biology (2015)

    Vascular Cell

  • Design and Implementation of a Laboratory-based Drug Design and Synthesis Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) (2015)

    American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education

  • Palladium-catalyzed Direct Arylation of C(sp3)-H Bonds of ?-Cyano Aliphatic Amides (2015)

    Journal of Organic Chemistry

  • Development and Validation of a UPLC Method for Rapid and Simultaneous Analysis of Proton Pump Inhibitors (2014)

    AAPS PharmSciTech

  • Recent Advances in the Development of P2Y12 Receptor Antagonists as Antiplatelet Agents. (2014)

    Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry

  • End of Supply Chain Screening to Assess Drug Product Quality in the U.S. Market–Omeprazole as a Case Study. (2013)

    Advances in Analytical Chemistry

  • The Future of Pharmaceutical Care (2012)

    Renewing Minds

  • The Study of Healthcare at the Christian University (2012)

    Faith and Learning: A Handbook for Christian Higher Education

  • 1,3-Diaxially Substituted trans-Decalins: Potential Nonsteroidal Human Progesterone Receptor Inhibitors. (2008)

    JOC

  • Generation of Oxamic Acid Libraries: Antimalarials and Inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum Lactate Dehydrogenase. (2007)

    J. Comb. Chem.

  • Recent Developments in the Syntheses of the Epothilones and Related Analogues. (2006)

    Eur. JOC

  • Design, synthesis and evaluation of trisubstituted thiazoles targeting Plasmodium falciparum cysteine proteases. (2005)

    Med. Chem. Res.

  • Synthesis and cyclization reactions of pyrazolin-5-one derivatives. (2005)

    Heterocycles

  • The Epothilones and Related Analogues—A Review of Their Syntheses and Anti-Cancer Activities. (2005)

    Curr. Pharm. Design

  • The Trimethylsilyl Xylyl (TIX) Ether: A Useful Protecting Group for Alcohols. (2005)

    Tetrahedron

  • First synthesis of antimalarial Machaeriols A and B. (2004)

    Tetrahedron Lett.

  • Efficient synthesis of 3-substituted pyrazolin-5-ones. (2002)

    Synth. Commun.

  • Synthesis of 3-substituted and 3,4-disubstituted pyrazolin-5-ones. (2002)

    Tetrahedron

  • Toward the total synthesis of pseudolaric acid B. Preparation of a key intermediate by degradation and its use in the reassembly of the natural product. (2002)

    Tetrahedron Lett.

  • Enzymatic synthesis of azatyrosines. (2001)

    Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.

  • Inhibition of Tyrosine Phenol-lyase from Citrobacter freundii by 2-azatyrosine and 3-azatyrosine. (2001)

    Biochemistry

Presentations

  • Palladium-catalyzed Direct Arylation of C(sp3)-H Bonds of ?-Cyano Aliphatic Amides. (2015)

    Joint Southeast/Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society

  • A Virtual Screening Protocol to Identify Potential Small Molecule Inhibitors of PknG. (2015)

    42nd Annual MALTO Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy Meeting in Miniature.

  • Development and Validation of a UPLC Method for Rapid and Simultaneous Analysis of Proton Pump Inhibitors. (2014)

    American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting and Exposition

  • Virtual screening for potential small molecule inhibitors of protein kinase G: a promising target for multidrug resistant tuberculosis. (2013)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Fall Poster Session

  • Alzheimer’s Disease: Understanding the Future of Drug Discovery. (2013)

    Invited talk, Alzheimer’s Disease Caregivers Support Group, West Tennessee Healthcare/JMCGH

  • Novel Synthesis and Activity of Solenopsin A and Analogs, Topical Inhibitors of Phosphoinositol-3 Kinase/Akt with Ceramide-like Properties. (2013)

    International Investigative Dermatology Conference

  • Clickers in the Classroom: Keeping Students Engaged. (2013)

    uTech Expo 2013, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

  • Pseudolaric Acid B (PLAB): A Novel Antifungal/Anticancer Natural Product. (2013)

    Invited talk, Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

  • Advanced Tips and Tricks for ANY Rotary Evaporator (2013)

    Webinar, American Pharmaceutical Review

  • Structure-Based De Novo Design and Synthesis of Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitors: A Novel Anti-Toxin Approach for Combating Anthrax. (2012)

    Honors Research Symposium, Mississippi University for Women

  • Progress Towards the Total Synthesis of Crotogoudin: A Potent Cytotoxic 3,4-seco-atisane from Croton goudotii. (2011)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Scholarship Symposium

  • Structure-based de novo design of small molecule inhibitors of protective antigen (PA): a novel anti-toxin approach for combating anthrax. (2011)

    8th Annual Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Scholarship Symposium

  • Evaluation of Potential Determinants of Successful Performance in First Year Pharmacy Students. (2010)

    AACP Annual Meeting

  • Progress towards the total synthesis of pseudolaric acid B: a novel antipneumocystic and antifungal natural product. (2004)

    228th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society

  • Progress towards the total synthesis of pseudolaric acid B, a novel antipneumocystic and antifungal natural product from Pseudolarix kaempferi. (2003)

    55th Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Plenary presentation

Awards

  • Patent – NADPH Oxidase Inhibitors and Uses Thereof (2022)

    US Patent Number 11236053, Guner, O; Lassegue, B.; Griendling, K.; Xu, Q.; Brown, D.; Bowen, J.P.; Kulkarni, A.

  • Patent – Novel Methods for Preparation of Substituted Pyridines and Related Novel Compounds (2021)

    US Patent Number 11117893, Uredi, D.; Motati, D. R.

  • Patent Application – Novel Methods for Preparation of Substituted Pyridines and Related Novel Compounds (2021)

    Application US17/467,413, Uredi, D.; Motati, D. R.

  • Patent – NADPH Oxidase Inhibitors (2017)

    Application 62/537,267

  • Patent – Solenopsin and Derivatives, Therapeutic Compositions, and Methods Related Thereto. (2017)

    U.S. Patent Number 9592226

  • Patent Application – Novel 1,2-Diarylethanone NOX inhibitors. (2014)

    U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62010670, filed June 11, 2014

  • Patent Application – Small Molecule Inhibitors of NADPH Oxidase (2014)

    U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62011230, file June 12, 2014

  • Faculty Member of the Year (2014)

  • Patent Pending – Solenopsin and Derivatives, Therapeutic Compositions, and Methods Related Thereto. (2014)

    U.S. Patent Application 14/271,982, filed May 8, 2014, patent pending

  • Granted Tenure (2014)

  • Member of AACP 2013-14 Academic Leadership Fellows Program cohort class (2013)