Mark Cushman

There, his research focused on the discovery and development of new synthetic methodologies,[1] and the isolation and structural characterization of mycotoxins from Aspergillus niger.

From 1983 to 1984, Prof. Cushman was a Senior Fulbright Scholar at Munich Technical University working in the laboratory of Professor Adelbert Bacher.

[4] One of his main scientific contributions is the development of the indenoisoquinolines, molecules that inhibit the action of toposiomerase I (Top1) and stabilize the G-quadruplex in the Myc promoter.

A main influence during his formative years was his maternal grandfather, Stanley Borleske, who taught engineering and mathematics at Fresno State College.

One of its first applications was for the preparation of nitrogen analogues of tetrahydrocannabinol, a pharmacologically active natural product isolated from Cannabis sativa.

[10] This versatile transformation has been used to generate polysubstituted lactam carboxylic acids and to prepare benzophenanthridine and protoberberine alkaloids, and hundreds of indenoisoquinolines.

[5] In addition, the Cushman group and collaborators have reported that indenoisoquinolines could potentially treat other diseases including visceral Leishmaniasis, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), and Angelman syndrome.

Another main contribution of Mark Cushman and his group deals with the synthesis of various natural products and pharmacologically active synthetic substances.