My professional experiences span the interface of chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics, and computational drug design. My contributions to biomedical research include over $2 million in grant funding, 20 peer reviewed publications, significant student-mentorship, scientific advocacy, and community outreach. Over the past 25 years, I have taught a variety of courses to both undergraduate and graduate students at two universities (South Carolina State University & LSU-Shreveport), including general chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, chemistry literature, instrumental analysis (team-taught), biochemistry, applied bioinformatics (team-taught), and a project-based course in computational drug discovery, which I created.
Dr. Mahdavian’s scholarly work interfaces on two interdisciplinary research fields:
Cancer Research: This program is centered on a novel experimental anti-cancer drug known as fusarochromanone (FC101). FC101 is an attractive lead drug candidate for clinical development mainly for three reasons. First, it is a potent poly-pharmacology agent that modulates multiple genes and pathways in cancer cell simultaneously and affects multiple cancer cell phenotypes (morphology, growth, migration). Second, it is largely a cancer-specific cytotoxic agent that displays the strongest effects against cancer cells vs. the normal cells, possibly the result of differential uptake/permeability by cancer cells or selective toxicity against them. Third, FC101 has been synthesized in non-racemic form at LSUS, facilitating investigations of its therapeutic potential through lead optimization and QSAR studies. I am currently focusing on three aspects of this research; I. lead-optimization/QSAR through synthesis and biological evaluation of key FC101 structural analogs; II. Computational and in-vitro drug screens to develop the phenotypic drug response/sensitivity profiles; III. System-wide mechanistic understanding of how FC101 induces its diverse drug response in cellular models of cancer.
Computer Aided Drug Discovery and Design (CADD) Program: This is a new interdisciplinary research program within the Department of Chemistry and Physics involving CADD methodology. Modern computational modeling tools in CADD has been pivotal to the success of a various pre-clinical drug discovery programs. It can expedite all stages of a drug discovery program, including drug-repurposing, lead optimization, and target identification. I have incorporated CADD into several anti-cancer drug discovery projects involving FC101 and new research units on antiviral therapeutics for COVID-19. I have also designed and implemented a new project-based course on CADD aimed at repurposing existing antiviral drugs. This course incorporates immersive active learning pedagogy that fosters interdisciplinary research skills and the development of a research-mindset. The inspiration for this course was two-fold: (1) The importance of teaching science as it is practiced, merging guided research with course-based instruction to broaden student participation in research; (2) The recognition that interdisciplinary research skills in applied bioinformatics, computational modeling, and structural biology are indispensable to a student's scientific education. This CADD course, which has now been successfully implemented six times since summer 2020, combines four modules: lectures, discussions including live demos, inquiry-based assignments, and science communication.
Other research-related activities:
1. Writing and administering grants (LBRN, BORSF, Tech Fee, LSUS Faculty Development Funds) Purpose: Provides support for student research, publication of our results, and the acquisition of research equipment and supplies.
2. Research mentor for ca 70 students (graduate, undergraduate, and high school)
Purpose: Offering opportunities to students to engage in original research and to develop skills and publish in areas of significant scientific importance.
3. Serving as the campus liaison for the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network (LBRN) program. Purpose: Promoting LBRN-sponsored biomedical research through faculty collaboration and student mentorship.
1. Stratton, C.; Christensen, A.; Jordan, C.; Salvatore, B.A.; Mahdavian, E.: An interdisciplinary course on computer-aided drug discovery to broaden student participation in original scientific research. Journal of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Education (JBMBE), (2024), 52 (3), 257-372.
2. Khazaei, F.; Rezakhani, L.; Alizadeh, M.; Mahdavian, E.; Khazaei, M. Exosomes and Exosome-Loaded Scaffolds: Characterization and Application in Modern Regenerative Medicine. Tissue and Cell (2023), 80, 102007.
3. Carroll, N.; Youngblood, R.; Smith, A.; Dragoi, A.M.; Salvatore, B.A.; Mahdavian, E.: TNBC Therapeutics Based on Combination of Fusarochromanone with EGFR Inhibitors. Biomedicines, (2022) 10 (11), 2906.
4. Mackay, R.P.; Weinberger, P.M.; Copland, J.A.; Mahdavian, E.; Xu, Q.: YM155 Induces DNA Damage and Cell Death in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells by Inhibiting DNA Topoisomerase IIα at the ATP Binding Site. Mol Cancer Therapeutics, (2022) 21 (6): 925-935.
5. Amer, R.A.; Kashanian, S.; Rafipour, R.; Hemati, A.A.; Zhaleh, H.; Mahdavian, E.: A Promising Dual-Drug Targeted Delivery System in Cancer Therapy: Nanocomplexes of Folate–Apoferritin-Conjugated Cationic Solid Lipid Nanoparticles. Pharmaceutical development and technology, (2021) 26 (6): 673–681.
6. Hashempour, S.; Shahabadi, N.; Adewoye, A.; Murphy, B.; Rouse, C.; Salvatore, B.A.; Stratton, C.; Mahdavian, E.: Binding Studies of AICAR and Human Serum Albumin by Spectroscopic, Theoretical, and Computational Methodologies. Molecules, (2020) 25 (22): 5410-5427.
7. Ridha, A. A.; Kashanian, S.; Azandaryani, A. H.; Rafipour, R.; Mahdavian, E.: New Folate-Modified Human Serum Albumin Conjugated to Cationic Lipid Carriers for Dual Targeting of Mitoxantrone against Breast Cancer. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology, (2020) 21 (4), 305–315.
8. Gomhor J.; Alqaraghuli, H.; Kashanian, S.; Rafipour, R.; Mahdavian, E.; Mansouri, K.: Development and Characterization of Folic Acid-Functionalized Apoferritin as a Delivery Vehicle for Epirubicin against MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology, (2018) 46 (sup3), S847–S854.
9. El-Saadi, M.W.; Williams-Hart, T.; Salvatore, B.A.; Mahdavian, E.: Use of In-Silico Assays to Characterize the ADMET Profile and Identify Potential Therapeutic Targets of Fusarochromanone, a Novel Anti-Cancer Agent. In Silico Pharmacol, (2015) 3 (1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40203-015-0010-5.
10. Gu, Y.; Barzegar, M.; Chen, X.; Wu, Y.; Shang, C.; Mahdavian, E.; Salvatore, B.A.; Jiang, S.; Huang, S.: Fusarochromanone-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Results in Activation of JNK Cascade and Cell Death by Inhibiting Protein Phosphatases 2A and 5. Oncotarget, (2015) 6 (39), 42322–42333.
11. Gu, Y.; Chen, X.; Shang, C.; Singh, K.; Barzegar, M.; Mahdavian, E.; Salvatore, B.A.; Jiang, S.; Huang, S.: Fusarochromanone Induces G1 Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in COS7 and HEK293 Cells. PLOS ONE, (2014) 9 (11), e112641.
12. Mahdavian, E.; Marshall, M.; Martin, P. M.; Cagle, P.; Salvatore, B.A.; Quick, Q.A.: Caspase-Dependent Signaling Underlies Glioblastoma Cell Death in Response to the Fungal Metabolite, Fusarochromanone. Int J Mol Med, (2014) 34 (3), 880–885.
13. Mahdavian, E.; Palyok, P.; Adelmund, S.; Williams-Hart, T.; Furmanski, B.D.; Kim, Y.J.; Gu, Y.; Barzegar, M.; Wu, Y.; Bhinge, K. N.; Kolluru, G. K.; Quick, Q.; Liu, Y.Y.; Kevil, C. G.; Salvatore, B.A.; Huang, S.; Clifford, J.L.: Biological Activities of Fusarochromanone: A Potent Anti-Cancer Agent. BMC Research Notes, (2014) 7 (1), 601.
14. Dong, L.F.; Jameson, V. J.A.; Tilly, D.; Cerny, J.; Mahdavian, E.; Marín-Hernández, A.; Hernández-Esquivel, L.; Rodríguez-Enríquez, S.; Stursa, J.; Witting, P.K.; Stantic, B.; Rohlena, J.; Truksa, J.; Kluckova, K.; Dyason, J. C.; Ledvina, M.; Salvatore, B.A.; Moreno-Sánchez, R.; Coster, M. J.; Ralph, S. J.; Smith, R.A.J.; Neuzil, J.: Mitochondrial Targeting of Vitamin E Succinate Enhances Its Pro-Apoptotic and Anti-Cancer Activity via Mitochondrial Complex II *. Journal of Biological Chemistry, (2011) 286 (5), 3717–3728.
15. Dong, L.F.; Jameson, V.J.A.; Tilly, D.; Prochazka, L.; Rohlena, J.; Valis, K.; Truksa, J.; Zobalova, R.; Mahdavian, E.; Kluckova, K.; Stantic, M.; Stursa, J.; Freeman, R.; Witting, P.K.; Norberg, E.; Goodwin, J.; Salvatore, B.A.; Novotna, J.; Turanek, J.; Ledvina, M.; Hozak, P.; Zhivotovsky, B.; Coster, M.J.; Ralph, S.J.; Smith, R.A.J.; Neuzil, J.: Mitochondrial Targeting of α-Tocopheryl Succinate Enhances Its pro-Apoptotic Efficacy: A New Paradigm for Effective Cancer Therapy. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, (2011) 50 (11), 1546–1555.
16. Mahdavian, E.; Sangsura, S.; Landry, G.; Eytina, J.; Salvatore, B.A.: A Novel Synthesis of Tocopheryl Amines and Amides. Tetrahedron Letters, (2009) 50 (1), 19–21.
17. Turánek, J.; Wang, X.-F.; Knötigová, P.; Koudelka, Š.; Dong, L.F.; Vrublová, E.; Mahdavian, E.; Procházka, L.; Sangsura, S.; Vacek, A.; Salvatore, B.A.; Neuzil, J.: Liposomal Formulation of α-Tocopheryl Maleamide: In Vitro and in Vivo Toxicological Profile and Anticancer Effect against Spontaneous Breast Carcinomas in Mice. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, (2009) 237 (3), 249–257.
18. Tomic-Vatic, A.; EyTina, J.; Chapman, J.; Mahdavian, E.; Neuzil, J.; Salvatore, B.A.: Vitamin E Amides, a New Class of Vitamin E Analogues with Enhanced Proapoptotic Activity. International Journal of Cancer, (2005) 117 (2), 188–193. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.21171.
19. Phan, J.; Mahdavian, E.; Nivens, M. C.; Minor, W.; Berger, S.; Spencer, H. T.; Dunlap, R.B.; Lebioda, L.: Catalytic Cysteine of Thymidylate Synthase Is Activated upon Substrate Binding. Biochemistry, (2000) 39 (23), 6969–6978.
20. Mahdavian, E.; Spencer, H.T.; Dunlap, R.B.: Kinetic Studies on Drug-Resistant Variants of Escherichia Coli Thymidylate Synthase: Functional Effects of Amino Acid Substitutions at Residue 4. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, (1999) 368 (2), 257–264. https://doi.org/10.1006/abbi.1999.1319
Louisiana State University (LSUS), Shreveport, Louisiana
2020- 2023. Computer aided drug design & discovery - undergraduate & graduate
2015-2023. Biochemistry lectures & laboratory - undergraduate & graduate levels
2022. Practical bioinformatics, team-taught LSUHSC & LSUS - graduate level
2017- 2022. Chemistry literature - undergraduate & graduate levels
2017- 2022. Instrumental Analysis – undergraduate level (team-taught)
2010-2012. Organic chemistry - undergraduate level
2003-2009. Physical chemistry- undergraduate level
South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, South Carolina
1999- 2003. Organic chemistry - undergraduate level
1999- 2003. General chemistry - undergraduate level
Wednesday 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (3 hours)
Thursday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (4 hours)
Friday 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (3 hours)
Starting a successful career is closer than you think. With exceptional academics and generous financial aid, LSUS allows you to get your degree close to home while launching you to new heights.