Bruce Blough

Bruce Blough, Ph.D., is a medicinal chemist in the Center for Drug Discovery at RTI. His primary contribution to science has been the study of novel and atypical biogenic amine releasers, including hybrid releasers/uptake inhibitors and partial releasers. Dr. Blough is also interested in psychedelic research and is the Principle Investigator of the Chemistry Center for Combatting Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, focused on the discovery of Gram-negative targeted antibiotics.

Dr. Blough joined RTI in 1990. Over the years, he has worked on teams that have progressed products to IND-ready and phase 1 clinical trials, such as tropanes and methamphetamine haptens. His past projects aimed at developing novel therapeutics include:

• Gram-negative antimicrobials
• Biogenic amine releasers and partial releasers
• Small molecule GPR88, GPR3, GPR6, and GPR12 agonists
• Small-molecule serotonin-2A receptor modulators
• Small-molecule OCT3 inhibitors
• Selective biogenic amine transporter inhibitors (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine)
• Subtype selective nicotinic receptor antagonists
• Nicotinic receptor allosteric modulators
• Cannabinoid allosteric modulators
• Haptens and protein conjugates for methamphetamine, cocaine and opioid vaccines and monoclonal antibodies
• Trace amine receptor agonists and antagonists
• Vesicular monoamine transporter uptake inhibitors

Dr. Blough is a co-author of more than 170 peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters. He has presented at many national and international meetings, and served on several NIH study sections.