Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry

Biomarker Discovery and Therapeutic Targeting of Oncogenic Signaling and Epigenetic Pathways for Novel Anti-cancer Agents — In memory of Dr. Chang-Deng Hu

This Article Collection is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Chang-Deng Hu, who passed away on September 1, 2022, after a brief battle with cholangiocarcinoma. A named professor in the Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and Institute for Cancer Research at Purdue University, Dr. Hu was internationally recognized for his pioneering contributions to cancer biology, enzyme inhibition, signal transduction, bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) to study protein-protein interactions in living cells, and medicinal chemistry. His research advanced our understanding of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) and helped guide the development of targeted therapeutic strategies, particularly through inhibition of protein arginine methyltransferase 5.

Beyond his scientific impact, Dr. Hu was a deeply respected mentor and educator whose dedication, integrity, and generosity shaped the careers of countless students and colleagues. His legacy extends far beyond his publications, reflecting a lifelong commitment to scientific excellence and collaboration. This Article Collection honors both his transformative research and his lasting influence on the cancer research and drug discovery community.

This Article Collection is important because it brings together cutting-edge research that reflects both the current momentum and future direction of cancer biology, drug discovery, and translational therapeutics. By uniting studies that span molecular mechanisms, pathway regulation, biomarker development, and therapeutic innovation, the collection aims to catalyse cross-disciplinary dialogue and accelerate progress toward more effective cancer treatments. It also provides a rigorous venue for presenting recent advances in enzyme inhibition, signal transduction, epigenetics, medicinal chemistry, and multi-omics approaches—areas that continue to reshape precision oncology. Beyond its scientific value, the issue honors the legacy of Dr. Chang-Deng Hu by highlighting work that embodies the principles he championed: mechanistic depth, methodological innovation, and clinically meaningful impact. Together, these contributions underscore why continued integration of fundamental science and therapeutic development is essential for advancing the next generation of cancer research and therapeutic development.

Please submit your manuscript on our website, using the promo code IENZ-2026-C41483 for 10% off the advertised article processing charge and selecting the corresponding Article Collection title in the drop-down menu through the submission process to indicate that your manuscript will be considered for the “Biomarker Discovery and Therapeutic Targeting of Oncogenic Signaling and Epigenetic Pathways for Novel Anti-cancer Agents — In memory of Dr. Chang-Deng Hu” Collection.

Please contact Haoyang Yi (Commissioning Editor) at [email protected] with any queries regarding this Article Collection.

Guest Advisor

Prof. Zhong-Yin Zhang

Zhong-Yin is Distinguished Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Robert C. and Charlotte P. Anderson Chair in Pharmacology, Head of the Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, and Director of the Institute for Drug Discovery at Purdue University. His research spans the disciplines of chemistry and biology with an emphasis on the structure/function and therapeutic targeting of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), a large family of enzymes (>100) that serve as key regulatory components in signal transductions controlling cell growth, metabolism, survival and the immune response. His team pioneers the development of potent, selective, and bioavailable PTP inhibitors (orthosteric, allosteric, covalent, and small molecule degraders) for functional target interrogation and therapeutic translation.

Prof. Chenglong Li

Chenglong Li is the Nicholas Bodor Professor for Drug Discovery and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Florida. He is the founding director of the NIH/NIGMS CBI (Chemistry-Biology Interface) T32 Predoctoral Training Program and the Associate Director of the CNPD3 (Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development) at UF. His research focuses on structure-based drug Design (SBDD), combining AI, computational chemistry, synthetic medicinal chemistry and experimental validation, with therapeutic applications for cancer and inflammatory diseases, etc.

Prof. Jun Wan

Jun Wan is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics and the Associate Director of the Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CCBB) at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He also directs the Collaborative Core for Cancer Bioinformatics (C3B), a shared resource supporting two NIH/NCI-designated cancer centers in Indiana, Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (IUSCCC) and Purdue University Institute of Cancer Research (PICR). His research spans a broad range of topics in bioinformatics and systems biology, with a primary focus on elucidating functional alterations in gene regulatory networks driven by epigenetic, transcriptional, and translational mechanisms.