University of Houston · PharmacologyThe Parasitic Defense Lab
Gregory D Cuny · Houston, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Gregory Cuny's lab at the University of Houston focuses on creating new treatments for cryptosporidiosis, a disease caused by parasitic protozoa that affects people, especially children and those with weakened immune systems. The lab is working on selective inhibitors that target a specific protein involved in the survival of these parasites. This research aims to improve treatment options for those infected, as current medications are limited and ineffective for certain populations.
cryptosporidiosisCDPK1 inhibitorsantiparasitic agentsgastrointestinal targetingcalcium-dependent protein kinases
Research Aims
3AIM 01Develop new CDPK1 inhibitors with improved potency against Cryptosporidium.
AIM 02Optimize the delivery of inhibitors to ensure maximum effectiveness in the gastrointestinal tract.
AIM 03Assess the impact of inhibitors on host microbiota and their safety in animal models.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culture techniquesin vivo pharmacokineticsstructure-activity relationship analysismolecular dockingtoxicity assessment
Output against the department
Publications266top 30% of dept.140th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations15ktop 26% of dept.121st of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.