Michael Pollastri - Northeastern Global News

Michael Pollastri in the Press

How Disease Detectives Unearthed A Forgotten Drug To Fight A Lethal Illness

Fexinidazole “is an excellent example of drug discovery scientists ‘rescuing’ a compound that was otherwise in the dustbin of a large drug company,” said Michael Pollastri, an associate processor in medicinal chemistry at Northeastern University who wasn’t involved with this research, in an earlier interview with HuffPost. “It’s a perfect example of how valuable it can be to […]

A killer disease might be nearing the end of its deadly run

“This drug seems likely to be approved for sleeping sickness, and is an excellent example of drug discovery scientists ‘rescuing’ a compound that was otherwise in the dustbin of a large drug company,” Michael Pollastri, an associate professor at Northeastern University, told HuffPost.

What would happen if someone got Ebola in America?

Let’s get one thing straight: You are not going to get Ebola. Donald Trump is not going to get Ebola. You are more likely to be killed by Batman, the ride. Ebola-like viruses have already breached our borders, and there were no secondary infections. There are airport workers whose job it is to identify passengers […]

What drug researchers can learn from a Kenyan clinic

When I arrived at the remote clinic some 180 miles from Nairobi, it was near mid-day, and the Kenyan sun had pushed the thermometer to uncomfortable heights. Small insects buzzed in and out of the open windows of the low building—the only thing keeping them from landing on the patients were the insect nets draped […]

This tropical disease is second only to malaria as a parasitic killer. So why haven’t you heard of it?

The deadly strain of leishmaniasis infects 300,000 people annually, causing 20,000 deaths, and is the second largest cause of parasitic death after malaria. For two Northeastern professors, Richard Wamai and Michael Pollastri, controlling the disease is a top priority.

Why you should care about rare tropical diseases

They may become your problem much sooner than you think.

The science behind fireworks

Have you ever wondered what makes a firework…work? We did. So we asked Michael Pollastri, associate professor and chair of the chemistry department, what’s happening inside those Fourth of July favorites—and which color fireworks are particularly challenging to create.

Collaboration: ‘Where the magic starts happening’

Innovative minds and collaborative spirits came together for two featured events at the opening of Northeastern’s Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex: “NU Talks: Innovating Across Disciplines” and the panel discussion “The Future of Interdisciplinary Research.” ISEC, the speakers agreed, represents both.

Northeastern’s research partnerships in Cuba open the doors to scientific exchange

Northeastern faculty and administrators visited Cuba last week, with members of Congress, to expand upon the university’s academic and research partnerships there, which are paving the way for myriad research opportunities in areas such as coastal sustainability, tropical diseases, and the social sciences. This story is the fourth in our five-part series covering the visit.

3Qs: Four new elements added to periodic table

The seventh row of the periodic table is now complete after Monday’s announcement of four new chemical elements. Chemistry professor Michael Pollastri explains why this is an important milestone for science.

Graduate researcher wins fellowship to design drugs to combat deadly disease

Chemistry doctoral student Dana Klug makes possible drug options the way a chef makes a gourmet dish—adding an atom of hydrogen here, removing an atom of nitrogen there—to stop a deadly parasite in its tracks.

New grant to advance sleeping sickness treatment research

Associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology Michael Pollastri has received a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to advance his research into a treatment for sleeping sickness.

New research offers hope in treating sleeping sickness

The neglected tropical disease affects tens of thousands of people and is mostly fatal. Now, new research co-authored by Northeastern chemistry professor Michael Pollastri has identified hundreds of chemical compounds that could lead to a cure.

Neglected for too long

During a panel discussion on Ebola earlier this month, Northeastern professors Michael Pollastri and Richard Wamai discussed other issues the Ebola outbreak is underscoring.