The Habay Group is interested in designing new and efficient chemical reactions in order to access important organic building blocks.  In particular, our interests lie in amino acid and heterocycle synthesis.    

We are also interested in applications of our reaction methodology to natural products total synthesis.  Total synthesis gives us the opportunity to invent new chemistry, gain access to greater quantities of medicinally relevant compounds, and provide a starting point for pharmaceutical development.  Below are a few examples of structures that provide us with inspiration.

We are part of a larger collaborative project to discover new small molecules that modulate the neuropeptide S receptor. Neuropeptide S is a recently discovered neurotransmitter that regulates wakefulness and anxiety. Our aim is to develop chemical tools to elucidate the physiological functions of the neuropeptide S system and develop potential drugs for conditions such as narcolepsy, hypersomnia, anxiety disorders, and insomnia.