Kelly Chibale@Kelly_Chibale

Professor at @UCT_News; Neville Isdell Chair; Founder and Director of H3D research centre; Editor-In-Chief at ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters.

 Cape Town, South Africa
h3d.uct.ac.za
Joined August 2020
140 Photos and videos
1/2 #Afropessimism – a term that I often use to emphasize a critical & often ignored issue. It is sad that people don’t trust African scientific #innovation. I always say this & I repeat – as Africans, we must take pride in what is #locallyproduced & support #localproducers.
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Our editors are catalysts for scientific progress as active researchers at top institutions. With expertise and global reach, they champion original research that shapes the future. Join a community committed to advancing science and submit today: go.acs.org/ezq
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In the July Issue of #ACSMedChemLett Elena De Vita describes three must read articles. go.acs.org/eqN
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In #ACSMedChemLett, Kim et al. report a modified version of an existing drug (nitazoxanide) that shows promise against hepatitis B. 1 compound worked better than the original & showed good oral absorption, stability & efficacy in animal studies: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs… @ACSBioMed

Synthesis of Nitazoxanide Derivatives as Potent and Orally Available HBx-DDB1 Inhibitors against...

Abstract. Nitazoxanide-based analogues were synthesized and evaluated for HBx-DDB1 interaction inhibition using a split-luciferase assay. Compared to the n

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Clofibric acid has been repurposed as a new “guiding tag” for a cutting-edge drug strategy that destroys harmful proteins, opening a new route for designing smarter cancer and disease treatments: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs… #ACSMedChemLett @ACSBioMed

Identification of Clofibric Acid as a Synoviolin (SYVN1) Ligand for Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera...

Abstract. Targeted protein degradation (TPD) via proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) is a powerful therapeutic strategy, yet only a small fraction of

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The June Issue of #ACSMedChemLett is out today! Sara Goldstein describes three must read articles this month In this Issue: go.acs.org/ejs
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#ACSMedChemLett reports a greener, simpler way to make a new molecules that may fight bacteria. In early tests, bacteria did not develop resistance to one compound after many repeated exposures. @ACSBioMed pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs…

Eco-Friendly Access to Indenodiazepinones from o-Formylynones and o-Phenylenediamines and Their...

Abstract. We have conceptualized and executed an efficient, eco-friendly, one-flask, synthetic approach to functionally enriched and potentially pharmacoph

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📢 Call for Abstracts: ACS150 JACS Symposium Series: University of Cape Town - Molecules to Medicine: Advancing Health Innovation in Africa! 📍 @UCT_news 📅 10-11 September Submit your abstract before 10 June 2026.  🔗 Apply today:  go.acs.org/eh5
Poster abstract submissions for the ACS150 JACS Symposium: University of Cape Town - Molecules to Medicine: Advancing Health Innovation in Africa are now open!   📍University of Cape Town, South Africa 📅 10-11 September 2026 We are seeking abstracts that are focused on the following topics: Drug Discovery & Therapeutics Infectious Diseases & Resistance Non-Communicable Diseases Biomedical Imaging & Diagnostics Biomaterials Applications in Medicine Chemical & Molecular Biology Methods Natural Products Synthesis To present at this scientific exchange on biological and medicinal chemistry, apply to attend this free event and submit your poster abstract before 10 June 2026. 

ALT Poster abstract submissions for the ACS150 JACS Symposium: University of Cape Town - Molecules to Medicine: Advancing Health Innovation in Africa are now open!   📍University of Cape Town, South Africa 📅 10-11 September 2026 We are seeking abstracts that are focused on the following topics: Drug Discovery & Therapeutics Infectious Diseases & Resistance Non-Communicable Diseases Biomedical Imaging & Diagnostics Biomaterials Applications in Medicine Chemical & Molecular Biology Methods Natural Products Synthesis To present at this scientific exchange on biological and medicinal chemistry, apply to attend this free event and submit your poster abstract before 10 June 2026. 
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Kelly Chibale retweeted
BLANCO-MEDI@MJBlanco_medi
Jun 3
Announcing Call for Papers for Special Issue on Allosteric Modulators in Drug Discovery. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs…
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Don't forget to register for our upcoming webinar, where winners of the 2026 Portoghese Lectureship Award will be discussing 'Emerging Medicinal Chemistry Approaches to Targeting Disease Pathways’. 📅 June 3, 12:00PM EDT Register to attend: go.acs.org/eg0
Announcing ‘Emerging Medicinal Chemistry Approaches to Targeting Disease Pathways’, part of our ‘Fueling Scientific Discovery: ACS Publications’ Celebrated Scientists’ webinar series. Taking place on June 3, 12:00–13:30 ET - and presented by our 2026 Portoghese Lectureship Award winners: 🌟 Prof. Alison Axtman, UNC Chapel Hill, United States 🌟 Prof. Fleur Ferguson, UC San Diego, United States Moderated by: Prof. Craig Lindsley, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry and Professor at Vanderbilt University, United States

ALT Announcing ‘Emerging Medicinal Chemistry Approaches to Targeting Disease Pathways’, part of our ‘Fueling Scientific Discovery: ACS Publications’ Celebrated Scientists’ webinar series. Taking place on June 3, 12:00–13:30 ET - and presented by our 2026 Portoghese Lectureship Award winners: 🌟 Prof. Alison Axtman, UNC Chapel Hill, United States 🌟 Prof. Fleur Ferguson, UC San Diego, United States Moderated by: Prof. Craig Lindsley, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry and Professor at Vanderbilt University, United States

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📢 Call for Abstracts: ACS150 JACS Symposium Series: University of Cape Town - Molecules to Medicine: Advancing Health Innovation in Africa! 📍 @UCT_news 📅 10-11 September Submit your abstract before 10 June 2026.  🔗 Apply today:  go.acs.org/efU
Poster abstract submissions for the ACS150 JACS Symposium: University of Cape Town - Molecules to Medicine: Advancing Health Innovation in Africa are now open!   📍University of Cape Town, South Africa 📅 10-11 September 2026 We are seeking abstracts that are focused on the following topics: Drug Discovery & Therapeutics Infectious Diseases & Resistance Non-Communicable Diseases Biomedical Imaging & Diagnostics Biomaterials Applications in Medicine Chemical & Molecular Biology Methods Natural Products Synthesis To present at this scientific exchange on biological and medicinal chemistry, apply to attend this free event and submit your poster abstract before 10 June 2026. 

ALT Poster abstract submissions for the ACS150 JACS Symposium: University of Cape Town - Molecules to Medicine: Advancing Health Innovation in Africa are now open!   📍University of Cape Town, South Africa 📅 10-11 September 2026 We are seeking abstracts that are focused on the following topics: Drug Discovery & Therapeutics Infectious Diseases & Resistance Non-Communicable Diseases Biomedical Imaging & Diagnostics Biomaterials Applications in Medicine Chemical & Molecular Biology Methods Natural Products Synthesis To present at this scientific exchange on biological and medicinal chemistry, apply to attend this free event and submit your poster abstract before 10 June 2026. 
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My latest essay reflects on how AI can strengthen African drug discovery and development ecosystems, from research and clinical trials to scientific capacity and locally relevant innovation. amacad.org/publication/daeda… #KellyChibale #AI #DrugDiscovery #AfricaScience #GlobalHealth

The Role of AI in Drug Discovery in Africa

The proliferation of artificial intelligence presents Africa’s drug discovery landscape with a transformative opportunity to accelerate research and development (R&D) to address the continent’s heavy...

amacad.org
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On #AfricaDay, I reflect on how surviving malaria as a child in Zambia shaped my life’s work in science and drug discovery. Read more: linkedin.com/posts/kelly-chi… #KellyChibale #AfricaScience #GlobalHealth #MalariaResearch
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It also reminded me that behind every medicine are years of research, collaboration, investment and volunteers who participate in clinical trials for the benefit of others.
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Scientists are designing smarter cancer drugs that target tumour cells while sparing healthy ones. A new class of molecules developed by Ipatova et al. showed activity against breast cancer cells with less harm to normal cells: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs… @ACSPublications

Spirocyclohexane-Chroman-4-one Derivatives as Selectively Cytotoxic Agents in Breast Cancer Models

Abstract. The design of novel small molecules with high selectivity for anticancer action remains a priority in the development of chemotherapy. A combinat

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Researchers have discovered a promising new way to treat pain without opioids. By targeting a specific “pain signal” channel (NaV1.8), Dialer et al. developed compounds that are more selective, longer-lasting and potentially safer: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs… @ACSPublications

Discovery and Optimization of Potent and Subtype-Selective Urea-Derived NaV1.8 Inhibitors

Abstract. Inhibitors of voltage-gated sodium channel 1.8 (NaV1.8) are anticipated to provide opioid-free treatment for acute pain and potentially chronic n

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Scientists are getting a clearer picture of how diabetes and weight-loss drugs work. By watching receptors on cells in real time, they found that drugs “grab on” in two ways, helping to explain why some treatments work better than others: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs… @ACSPublications

In Vitro Characterization of Agonist and Antagonist Peptide Binding Interaction Kinetics to GLP-1R...

Abstract. The glucagon peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R), a class-B-type G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is a key therapeutic target for many metabolic disord

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Congratulations Kelly Chibale of @UCT_news, newly inducted NAS international member! #NAS163 #NASmember #chemistry #biology #pharmacology
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Identification of Natural-Product Inhibitors of the 2C-Methyl-d-erythritol 4-Phosphate Pathway pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs… @ACSPublications #KellyChibale #AntibioticDiscovery #DrugDiscovery #MedicinalChemistry #AntimicrobialResistance #InfectiousDiseases #GlobalHealth

Identification of Natural-Product Inhibitors of the 2C‑Methyl‑d‑erythritol 4‑Phosphate Pathway

Abstract. To tackle the emerging resistance against existing antibiotics, we screened natural-product (NP) libraries against two underexploited target enzy

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Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Prodrugs of Sulfonamide TLR4 Signaling Inhibitor TAK-242 (Resatorvid) #DrugDevelopment #MedicinalChemistry #DrugDesign #ProdrugStrategy #InflammationResearch #Immunology #Resatorvid #Pharmacokinetics #DrugRelease #ChemicalBiology
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Discovery of a Colon-Targeted Prodrug as an Escherichia coli Biofilm Inhibitor for Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs… @ACSPublications #MedicinalChemistry #DrugDiscovery #ProdrugDesign #IBDResearch #InflammatoryBowelDisease #MicrobiomeScience #Biofilms

Discovery of a Colon-Targeted Prodrug As an Escherichia coli Biofilm Inhibitor for Treating...

Abstract. We hypothesized that the formation of biofilms contributes to the onset of inflammatory bowel disease and, thus, attempted to develop biofilm inh

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