BIO
Teaching & Academic Contributions
- PharmD Courses:
- Medicinal Chemistry II/III
- Research Elective PS 389
- Graduate Teaching:
- Principles of Drug Discovery
- Advanced Medicinal Chemistry I
- Graduate Seminar
- Journal Club
- Advisor: 2 doctoral student and 1 postdoctoral fellow (TUSP); 1 doctoral student (CST)
Research Focus & Activities
Dr. Abou-Gharbia’s research laboratories are focusing on the Glutamate Transporters-1 (GLT-1) Enhancers Project. GLT-1 is the most critical determinant of glutamate clearance in the brain, and his research contributions have opened a new chapter in our ability to target GLT-1 for clinical uses. This resulted in the discovery of a drug-like, brain-penetrant GLT-1 enhancer MC-100093 that has impacted several groups' research in cocaine and alcohol addiction and treatment of alcohol use disorders including anxiety and depression, and cerebral palsy.
The group’s research further focuses on: (a) the use of receptor homology, bioisosteric replacement strategies, rational and structure-based drug design approaches; (b) utilizing natural products as a unique resource for discovering innovative therapeutics; (c) applying enabling technology platforms and in vitro ADME to evaluate drug-like properties of all discovered molecules to ensure clinical effectiveness of drug candidates; and (d) the design of chemical probes in support of translational medicine.
Dr. Abou-Gharbia is engaged in several collaborations with academic and industrial scientists, submitting joint grants and welcoming training visiting scholars from the US and abroad in drug discovery research.
Key Interests: Glutamate Transporters-1 (GLT-1) Enhancers Project; in vitro ADME; phenotypic and target-based drug discovery and design; drug addiction; chronic pain and neuropathic pain and the discovery of novel therapeutics for treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Select Publications
- W. Childers, K. Elokely and M. Abou-Gharbia, Dezocine and addiction: Friend or Foe? Pharmaceuticals, 2025, 18 (3), 386.
- Zhang H, Huang C, Gordon J, Yu S, Morton G, Childers W, Abou-Gharbia M, Zhang Y, Jelinek J, Issa JJ. MC180295 is a highly potent and selective CDK9 inhibitor with preclinical in vitro and in vivo efficacy in cancer. Clin Epigenetics. 2024 Jan 3;16(1):3.
- D. J. Canney, B. E. Blass, R. Gao, M. Abou-Gharbia (2024). 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor 7 activity modulators and their method of use (U.S. Patent No.11,897,870).
- M. A. Abou-Gharbia, W. E. Childers, M. A. Jacobson, R. Fan,R. L. Martinez, (2024). Functionalized N,N-dialkylamino phenyl ethers and their method of use (U.S. Patent No. 11873267).
- León BE, Peyton L, Essa H, Wieden T, Marion N, Childers WE, Abou-Gharbia M, Choi DS. A novel monobactam lacking antimicrobial activity, MC-100093, reduces sex-specific ethanol preference and depressive-like behaviors in mice. Neuropharmacology. 2023 Jul 1;232:109515.
- Wayne Childers W, Abou-Gharbia M, “I’ll be Back”: The Resurrection of Dezocine, ACS Med.Chem. Lett. 2021; 12(6):961-968.
Honors & Awards
- Outstanding Faculty Service Award, Temple University Faculty Senate (2022)
- Heroes of Chemistry Award, American Chemical Society for Discovery of Effexor (2014)
- PA Bio Award & Educator Researcher of the Year Award, Philadelphia Business Journal (2014)
- Grand Hamadan Award, Hamadan Award Office, UAE, Excellence in Medical Sciences (2014)
Leadership & Service Experience
- Research Misconduct Committee, Office of Vice President of Research
- Senate Personnel Committee, Temple University Senate
- Honor Council Committee, TUSP
- Tenure Track Committee, TUSP
- Board of Visitors, Temple College of Science & Technology
- Joint Appointment, Temple College of Science & Technology
- Associate Dean for Research, TUSP
- Founding Director, Moulder Center for Drug Discovery, TUSP