College of Letters and Sciences
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Shirisha Jonnalagadda
Assistant Professor

  • Department(s): Chemistry
  • Office Location: Upham Hall 259
  • Phone: (262) 472-5121
  • Email: jonnalas@uww.edu
Shirisha Jonnalagadda profile picture
Education
PhD Integrated Biosciences                     University of Minnesota, MN     
MS Chemistry                                           University of Minnesota Duluth, MN
MS Chemistry                                           National Institute of Technology Warangal, India
BS Chemistry, Physics & Mathematics     Kakatiya University, India

Professional experience
2023-current     Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
2021-2023        Post-doctoral Research Associate, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
2019-2020        Post-doctoral Research Associate, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock
2010-2019       Graduate Research Assistant, University of Minnesota, Duluth

2009-2010       Junior Research Scientist, University of Minnesota, Duluth

Research interests
I have expertise in drug design and development, organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences. As a part of my Ph.D. thesis, I worked on the synthesis and evaluation of novel cyanocinnamic acid-based small molecules as monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) inhibitors, which included the synthesis of numerous drug candidates, in vitro and in vivo studies and the development of several lead molecules for cancer treatment. My post-doctoral research at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, primarily focused on DNA repair mechanisms, RAD6 inhibition, and the role of LYL1 in ovarian cancer. My second postdoctoral studies included the synthesis of small non-peptidomimetic molecules based on the pyridine-piperidine template for the activation of neurolysin as a potential treatment for ischemic stroke. I was also involved in the biological evaluation of VEGFR2 inhibitors, AKR1C3 inhibitors, and tricyclic ketals. My research work as a graduate student and postdoctoral fellow lays the foundation for my future research. My plan for future research at UWW is to design and synthesize new drug candidates to establish more potent and less toxic molecules with minimal side effects for the treatment of various cancers and other diseases. 

Teaching
Fall 2023     CHEM 251 Organic Chemistry I
Fall 2023     CHEM 261 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
Fall 2023     CHEM 102 General Chemistry Laboratory

Office hours Fall 2023
MTWR 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM in UH259
M 12:45 PM to 1:45 PM (by Webex)
or by appointment

Selected publications

  • Huwaimel BI, Jonnalagadda SK, Jonnalagadda S, Kumari S, Nocentini A, Supuran CT, Trippier PC. “Selective carbonic anhydrase IX and XII inhibitors based around a functionalized coumarin scaffold” Drug Dev Res, 2023, 1-22.
  • Huwaimela BI, Jonnalagadda SK, Jonnalagadda S, Zahra FT, Nocentini A, Supuran CT, Mikelis CM, Trippier PC. “Chlorinated benzothiadiazines inhibit angiogenesis through suppression of VEGFR2 phosphorylation” Bioorg Med Chem, 2022, 67:116805.
  • Jonnalagadda SK, Huwaimel B, Jonnalagadda S, Garrison JC, Trippier PC “Access to highly strained tricyclic ketals derived from coumarins” J Org Chem, 2022, 87(6):4476-4482.
  • Kumpati GP, Williams MJ, Mereddy S, Johnson JL, Jonnalagadda S “Synthesis and evaluation of quinolino-benzoxaboroles as potential antimicrobial agents” Int J Org Chem, 2022, 12(2):53-63.
  • Nelson GL, Ronayne CT, Solano LN, Jonnalagadda SK, Jonnalagadda S, Schumacher TJ, Gardner ZS, Palle H, Mani C, Rumbley J, Mereddy VR “Synthesis and biological evaluation of N, N-dialkylcarboxy coumarin-NO donor conjugates as potential anticancer agents” Med. Chem. Lett., 2021, 52:128411.
  • Reedy M, Jonnalagadda S, and Palle K “Case report: Intra-tumoral vaccinations of quadrivalent HPV-L1 peptide vaccine with topical TLR-7 agonist following recurrence after radiation therapy: Complete resolution of HPV-HR-associated gynecologic squamous cell carcinomas in two patients.” Pathology & Oncology Research 2021, 27:1609922.
  • Jonnalagadda SK, Wielenberg K, Ronayne CT, Jonnalagadda S, Kiprof K, Jonnalagadda SC, Mereddy V. “Synthesis and biological evaluation of arylphosphonium-benzoxaborole conjugates as novel anticancer agents” Med. Chem. Lett., 2020, 30(14):127259.
  • Solano LN, Nelson GL, Ronayne CT, Jonnalagadda S, Jonnalagadda SK, Kottke K, Chitren R, Johnson JL, Pandey MK, Jonnalagadda SC, Mereddy VR "Synthesis, in vitro, and in vivo evaluation of novel N-phenylindazolyl diarylureas as potential anti-cancer agents" Sci Rep, 2020, 10(1):17969.
  • Jonnalagadda S, Jonnalagadda SK, Ronayne CT, Nelson GL, Solano LN, Rumbley J, Holy J, Mereddy VR, Drewes LR, “Novel N,N-dialkyl cyanocinnamic acids as monocarboxylate transporter 1 and 4 inhibitors” Oncotarget, 2019, 10(24):2355-2368.
  • Mani C, Jonnalagadda S, Lingareddy J, Awasthi S, Gmeiner WH, Palle K, “Prexasertib treatment induces homologous recombination deficiency and synergizes with olaparib in triple negative breast cancer cells" Breast Cancer Res, 2019, 21(1):104.