Kevin Frankowski

Kevin Frankowski is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Leading a synthetic and medicinal chemistry laboratory, he specializes in leveraging chemical synthesis expertise to optimize small molecule therapeutics and design chemical probes in partnership with disease experts to address unmet medical needs. His academic journey began with a BS in Chemistry and a BA in German Literature from Virginia Tech, where he synthesized anticonvulsant analogues under James F. Wolfe. He earned his PhD in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Delaware, mentored by Douglass F. Taber. Following postdoctoral research and a research associate position with Jeffrey Aubé at the University of Kansas, including in the KU Specialized Chemistry Center, Frankowski joined UNC, where he continues collaborations with the Aubé group.

Frankowski's research interests center on developing novel tool molecules for central nervous system targets, notably sigma and dopamine receptors, as well as applications in cancer and stroke. His lab contributes to projects such as inhibiting aquaporin-4 for stroke treatment, sigma receptor modulation for opioid-free pain therapy, D1 dopamine receptor positive allosteric modulators for cognitive decline, and D3 dopamine receptor negative allosteric modulators for substance use disorders. Funded by grants including Principal Investigator awards from the National Institute on Aging and National Institute on Drug Abuse, and multi-PI grants from the National Cancer Institute and Eshelman Innovation. Notable publications include "Discovery and optimization of pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives as selective disruptors of the perinucleolar compartment" (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2022), contributing to metarrestin, which has advanced to phase I clinical trials; "Discovery, optimization, and characterization of ML417: A novel and highly selective D3 dopamine receptor agonist" (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2020); and recent works on electrochemical α-functionalization of amines (Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, 2024) and RNA helicase inhibitors (European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2026). His contributions extend to UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, enhancing impact in cancer cell biology.

Professional Email: kevinf@email.unc.edu