NUBIAN, an ambitious international research collaboration, has been launched to develop advanced naphthoquinoidal compounds. The project combines synthetic and computational chemistry to design innovative bioimaging agents and therapeutic candidates targeting neglected tropical diseases such as Chagas disease and sleeping sickness.
NUBIAN—short for “Naphthoquinoidal Compounds for Bioimaging and Innovations Against Neglected Diseases in Brazil And Sierra Leone”—has officially launched as a new collaborative project uniting experts in synthetic and computational chemistry. The initiative, funded by the Royal Society International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) International Collaboration Awards, addresses major health challenges in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Chagas disease and Human African Trypanosomiasis.
The project combines click chemistry with advanced computational modelling to create a diverse library of 1,4-naphthoquinone-based compounds. These molecules are designed to exhibit potent trypanocidal activity and intrinsic fluorescent properties, with potential applications in both treatment and diagnosis.
Capacity building is central to NUBIAN’s goals. In Brazil, Guilherme Jardim leads the synthetic chemistry programme, while the UK-based team, under the direction of Felipe Fantuzzi, principal investigator of this project, focuses on theoretical investigations and compound screening. In Sierra Leone, Sulaiman Lakoh and his team will contribute to the establishment of the Sierra Leone UK Centre for Advanced Studies on Tropical and Infectious Diseases (SLUK-CASTRID), a hub for local research training and infrastructure development in computational chemistry.
The project is supported by a total investment of £323,241.44. Of this, £66,500.00 is allocated for Brazil and £100,195.18 for Sierra Leone, ensuring resources are directed toward scientific development and local empowerment in both regions.
NUBIAN represents an important step in the global effort to find new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for neglected diseases, offering both scientific innovation and lasting capacity development.