The overarching research theme of the Wolfe Lab is combining chemistry and biology toward understanding the molecular basis of dementias, especially Alzheimer's disease, and developing prototype therapeutic agents. Small organic molecules are designed and used as probes to address biological questions (chemical biology), and such agents may also be optimized for their therapeutic potential (medicinal chemistry). In parallel, macromolecular structure and function is explored as well (biological chemistry). In this way, chemical biology, medicinal chemistry and biological chemistry are interwoven and brought to bear on the problem of dementias.
