University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · ChemistryThe Prosthetic Molecule Lab
Martin D Burke · Champaign, Illinois
Research Focus
Professor Martin D. Burke's lab at the University of Illinois focuses on innovative research in molecular prosthetics and automated synthesis of natural products. They aim to develop small molecules that can replace missing enzyme functions in humans, addressing diseases linked to enzyme deficiencies. Additionally, the lab is creating modular 'lego kits' for the automated synthesis of complex natural products like lipids and terpenoids, which have significant health and industrial applications.
molecular prostheticsenzyme replacementautomated synthesisnatural productsterpenoidslipidsdrug developmentbiochemical reactionschemical biology
Research Aims
5AIM 01Develop small molecules that can function as enzyme surrogates for treating enzyme deficiencies.
AIM 02Create automated platforms for the synthesis of complex natural products.
AIM 03Investigate the biochemical mechanisms of molecular prosthetics in mice and humans.
AIM 04Establish novel Csp3-C bond forming methods for efficient synthesis.
AIM 05Explore structure-cyclization relationships in polcyclic terpenoids.
Skills the Lab Values
small molecule synthesisautomated synthesis platformsenzyme assaysmolecular modelingmouse modelsorganic synthesis techniquesretrosynthetic analysischemical reactivity evaluationhigh-throughput screening
Output against the department
Publications182bottom 43% of dept.124th of 216
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations11ktop 44% of dept.95th of 216
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.