The Carlier Lab

Carlier trained as a synthetic organic chemist in the laboratory of K. Barry Sharpless (2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry). After a brief stint in industry, his academic career began with a first appointment as founding faculty at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). During his 9 years there he was promoted to Associate Professor and began two productive collaborations on memory-enhancers for Alzheimer’s disease and new therapies for SSRI-resistant depression. In 2000 he moved to Virginia Tech, where he continued his research in stereoselective synthesis and CNS drug discovery. Since 2005, his laboratory has focused on the design, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of small molecules to address critical challenges in global health, particularly malaria. In 2022, he moved to UIC to direct UICENTRE, a collaborative, campus-wide drug discovery center, and in 2024 was named Hans W. Vahlteich Chair in Medicinal Chemistry.