A Florida State University researcher has received a multi-million-dollar grant to investigate the role enzymes — which influence nearly every process in the human body from digestion to communication among brain cells — play in human diseases.
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Wen Zhu has earned the Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award, or MIRA, from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health. For the next five years, the $2,086,885 award will comprehensively fund the Wen Zhu Laboratory’s research on enzymes.
“I am thrilled and deeply honored,” Zhu said. “My lab studies enzymes, or molecules in living organisms that facilitate complex chemical reactions. When a genetic mutation occurs, the resulting enzyme may not function properly, which can lead to many health problems including childhood developmental disorders. By uncovering how and why enzymes malfunction, we aim to open new paths for designing medicines and improving treatments.”
MIRA falls under the National Institutes of Health’s broader R35 grant program, and the award is unique for its “program versus project” approach, supporting broader research activities rather than individual projects with predetermined goals. In doing so, NIH aims to increase the efficiency of its funding by providing investigators with greater stability and flexibility, enhancing scientific productivity and opportunities for important discoveries.
“I am excited to see where the science will take us,” Zhu said. “With MIRA’s support, I can develop a more comprehensive understanding of enzyme dynamics and their roles in disease, building a coherent body of work that connects fundamental discoveries with translational potential in drug discovery. This is important because I want to ensure scientific discoveries are directly connected to public benefit, bridging the gap between foundational research and patients.”
Among the lab’s interests is an enzyme called asparagine synthetase, which creates asparagine, an amino acid critical for protein production and nervous system function. Dysfunction of this enzyme is associated with asparagine synthetase deficiency, a rare pediatric disorder caused by a genetic mutation that impairs brain development and spurs a progressive loss of brain tissue in infants.
“Enzymes affect nearly every process in our bodies, and when they malfunction, the consequences can be serious,” Zhu said. “Our work aims to explain how certain genetic mutations lead to enzyme impairment. I hope that one day our research will bring relief to families affected by rare genetic diseases caused by enzyme malfunctions and ultimately contribute to treatments that improve health outcomes for families and communities.”
Zhu worked as a research scientist for Astex Pharmaceuticals, a drug discovery company, before establishing her independent lab at FSU in 2023. She has received $25,000 from the Florida for Pediatric Rare Diseases at the FSU College of Medicine and $20,000 from the First Year Assistant Professor grant program, part of FSU’s Council on Research and Creativity.
“Growing and strengthening FSU’s footprint in molecular bio-design and drug discovery remains a strategic priority,” said Wei Yang, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry chair. “Dr. Zhu represents a pioneering young generation of chemists in this area, and her R35 award is a great indication of the department’s progress.”
For more about research conducted in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, visit chem.fsu.edu. Visit the Wen Zhu Laboratory website to learn more about Zhu’s work.