Jeanne Hardy

Condensed Biography:

NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals (2002–2005)
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (2000)
BS/MS, Utah State University (1994)

Affiliations:

Faculty, Graduate Program in Molecular & Cellular Biology
Faculty, Center for Bioactive Delivery, Institute for Applied Life Sciences
Faculty, Models to Medicine, Institute for Applied Life Sciences

Principal Research Interests: 

In the Hardy Lab our two great passions are understanding proteases and training future scientists. Hardy lab members apply insights we gain by studying the structure and function of protease proteins to problems of human disease. Hardy lab focuses on two kinds of proteases: the caspases and viral proteases. Caspases are a family of 12 human proteases, each of which plays a slightly different role which the Hardy lab is working to distinguish. Caspase-6, for example, is a drug target in Alzheimer's Disease. By determining the x-ray crystal structure and applying NMR and HDX-MS, we discovered that a region of caspase-6 below its active site transitions between two different shapes (α-helix and β-sheet). This allowed us to develop and patent a promising, potent small molecule inhibitor of caspase-6. This inhibitor shows blood-brain barrier penetrating properties, which is essential for an Alzheimer’s therapy. Students in Hardy lab are currently testing these inhibitors in mice.

Hardy Lab members are also passionate about using our insights about proteases to prepare for the next pandemic. We work on proteases from a number of viruses, including Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, Mayro and SARS-CoV-2. Our studies on their structure and function is leading us to develop new viral protease inhibitors.

Prior to UMass Prof. Hardy worked at Sunesis Pharmaceuticals. She leveraged that experience to her Directorship of the NIH-Supported Biotechnology Training Program. Prof. Hardy also loves teaching CHEM 423: Biochemistry for Chemists & Chemical Engineers where her students learn to use sophisticated tools visualize the molecular interactions that allow proteins to fold and drugs to bind their protein targets.