March is International Women's Month! And this year, we are highlighting some of the amazing women chemists and researchers in the Chem-Impex community who inspire us everyday.
Marina Buyanova, Ph.D, is the principal scientist at Grove Biopharma, Inc. Her work in peptide chemistry focuses on developing Precision-Linked Proteomimetics™ (PLPs), a novel class of synthetic biologics aimed at targeting diseases like cancer. You can learn more about her work in our interview with her below:
Where do you work/study?
I work at Grove Biopharma, a startup in Chicago, where we focus on developing Precision-Linked Proteomimetics™ (PLPs), a novel class of synthetic biologics, for therapeutic development.
What is your role there?
I am a Principal Scientist, specializing in synthetic peptide chemistry and drug discovery.
How long have you been there?
I have been with Grove Biopharma for more than three years.
What kind of research have you been doing recently?
My research focuses on designing fully synthetic PLPs that disrupt or create protein-protein interactions (PPIs) to target diseases, particularly in oncology. These molecules combine the benefits of biologics with the speed and modularity of synthetic chemistry, allowing us to address previously “undruggable” targets.
Why is your research important?
Many diseases, especially cancers, are driven by intracellular protein interactions that traditional drugs cannot target. By developing PLPs, we are expanding the range of druggable targets and potentially creating first-in-class therapies for patients with limited treatment options.
What is the most challenging and most rewarding part of your work?
Most challenging: As part of a small startup team, I wear multiple hats, from designing and optimizing compounds to managing project timelines and collaborating across functions. Balancing these roles in a fast-paced environment requires flexibility and strong problem-solving skills.
Most rewarding: The fast-paced startup environment provides the opportunity to see our projects move from concept to animal models in just a few months, which is incredibly gratifying. Knowing that our work could lead to life-changing treatments for patients makes all the challenges worth it.
What is your hope for the future with this research?
I hope to see PLPs become a new class of therapeutics, offering effective treatments not only for oncology but also for diseases like immuno-oncology and neurodegenerative disorders that have long been considered untreatable. Long-term, I want to contribute to advancing peptide chemistry in drug discovery, making more intracellular targets accessible for therapeutic intervention.
What other chemists or researchers have inspired you?
I find inspiration in Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work on CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, a technology that has revolutionized biomedical research and therapeutic development. I also admire Tu Youyou, who discovered artemisinin for malaria, and Gertrude B. Elion, who developed acyclovir for herpes and many other life-saving medications.