Thomas Michael Frimurer

Associate Professor

NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen

Biography

The Frimurer Group investigates how small molecules and drugs interact with target proteins to modulate their function, with special interest in translational pharmacology and rational design of next generation drugs. Identification of new biological target molecules is needed to develop new drugs to treat diabetes and obesity. Potential target proteins are often discovered as e.g. gene hits in large genetic or epigenetic studies or through single cell transcriptomic analysis. However, protein-based biochemical assays and pharmacological tool compounds (drug candidates) to validate these target proteins are needed.

The core focus of the Frimurer Group is related to translational pharmacology and rational design of next generation drugs. We use structure-based design technologies to discover ligands that can be developed into pharmacological tool compounds and early drug candidates which is used to characterize the physiological role of food and metabolite sensing receptors as well as other metabolic target proteins associated with the regulation of glucose homeostasis, adipose function and are considered high value targets for the treatment of metabolic diseases. A major goal is to determine the mechanistic action of new drug candidates in the context of human disease and establish novel pharmacological paradigms that will result in the rational design of next generation drugs.

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