Bruce Blough

Bruce Blough, Ph.D., conducts synthetic medicinal chemistry research at RTI. The current focus of his laboratory is novel and atypical biogenic amine releasers, including hybrid releasers/uptake inhibitors and partial releasers. The laboratory is also researching natural products, particularly compounds that modulate microbial growth and signaling.

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:

• Dopamine transporter inhibitors
• Selective serotonin transporter inhibitors
• Selective norepinephrine transporter inhibitors
• Subtype selective nicotinic receptor antagonists
• Nicotinic receptor allosteric modulators
• Cannabinoid allosteric modulators
• Small molecule GPR88 agonists
• Haptens and protein conjugates for methamphetamine vaccines and monoclonal antibodies
• Steroid receptors
• Non-hormonal male contraceptives
• Small-molecule serotonin-2A receptor modulators
• Trace amine receptor agonists and antagonists
• Vesicular monoamine transporter uptake inhibitors
• Biogenic amine releasers

Dr. Blough is a co-author of more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and several book chapters. He has presented at many national and international meetings, and served on several NIH study sections.