Peter Wipf

Peter Wipf is the Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, where he directs the Combinatorial Chemistry Center and the Center for Chemical Methodologies and Library Development. He received his Dipl. Chem. in 1984 and Ph.D. in 1987 from the University of Zürich, working on 2H-azirines under Professor Heinz Heimgartner, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship from 1988 to 1990 at the University of Virginia with Professor Robert E. Ireland on FK-506. Wipf joined the University of Pittsburgh in September 1990 as Assistant Professor of Chemistry, advancing to Associate Professor in 1995, Professor in 1997, and Distinguished University Professor in 2004. Since November 2001, he has also served as Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

His research focuses on the total synthesis of natural products, strain-release and heterocyclic chemistry, and medicinal chemistry, with applications in chemical biology including projects on protein conformational diseases, radiation countermeasures, and chemical diversity. Key publications include "Nanoparticles in cellular drug delivery" (Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2009), "Targeting mitochondria" (Accounts of Chemical Research, 2008), "Synthetic studies of biologically active marine cyclopeptides" (Chemical Reviews, 1995), and "Fluorous synthesis: A fluorous-phase strategy for improving separation efficiency in organic synthesis" (Science, 1997). With more than 45,000 citations, Wipf's contributions have advanced synthetic methodologies and drug discovery. He has received major awards such as the ACS Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry (2023), Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (2024), Humboldt Research Award (2014), Ernest Guenther Award (2009), and the 2026 E. C. Taylor Senior Award. Wipf has held editorial roles including Associate Editor of ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2009-2022) and served on boards for Organic Syntheses and Organic Reactions, as well as chairing the NIH Medicinal Chemistry Study Section (2001-2003).

Professional Email: pwipf@pitt.edu