University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · PharmacologyDengue and Zika Antiviral Unit
Carston R. Wagner · Minneapolis, Minnesota
Research Focus
Dr. Carston R. Wagner's research lab focuses on developing new antiviral drugs specifically targeting the Dengue and Zika viruses, which pose significant public health threats worldwide. The lab is innovating a unique class of prodrugs known as AHA-ProTides, which promise better stability and oral bioavailability compared to current treatments. This work aims to provide effective therapy for these viral infections, which currently lack effective treatments.
Dengue virusZika virusantiviral drugsProTidesprodrugs
Research Aims
5AIM 01Develop antiviral compounds that effectively target Dengue and Zika viruses.
AIM 02Create AHA-ProTides with improved stability and potency.
AIM 03Investigate the pharmacokinetics of new antiviral agents in model systems.
AIM 04Explore the mechanisms of antiviral activity against arboviruses.
AIM 05Test the efficacy of lead compounds in preclinical models.
Skills the Lab Values
organic synthesisin vitro pharmacologycell cultureviral assaysHPLCELISAanimal modelsbioavailability testing
Output against the department
Publications182top 49% of dept.226th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.9kbottom 36% of dept.294th of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.