William A. Howard

William A. HowardResearch Description

Research in my laboratory is focused on synthetic and mechanistic transition metal chemistry. My research interests include (1) creating platinum鈥攂ased drugs for treating different types of cancer, and (2) designing and carrying out experiments aimed at understanding how the drugs work. This work may require the use of an inert atmosphere glovebox, a high vacuum line, and Schlenk techniques.  Furthermore, we frequently carry out computational studies in order to understand better how our platinum compounds may function as anticancer drugs.

A few, recent examples of platinum compounds prepared and characterized by my students include (1) Pt(CH3)2I2{2,2'-bipyridine}; (2) Pt(CH3)2I2{2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-dimethyl}; and (3) {Pt(CH3)3}2(m-I)2(m-adenine).  Compound 2 was particularly cytotoxic toward colon cancer cell line HCT-116 and ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR-3.  Compound 3 displayed excessive cytotoxicity toward central nervous system cancer cell line SF-539 and renal adenocarcinoma cell line RXF-393. 

What are the structural features or molecular properties that cause a platinum compound to kill one type of cancer cell better than another type of cancer cell?  My students and I want to be able to answer this question.

Selected Publications

Link to Google Scholar Full Publication Page: 

  • "Anticancer Activity as a Function of Ligand Isomerism in the Series Pt(CH3)2I2{2,2'-bipyridine-n,n'-(CH3)2} (n,n' = 4,4'; 5,5'; and 6,6')."  Stitz, Shadrach; Howard, William A.; Wheeler, Kraig A.  Manuscript in Preparation.
  • "Synthesis, Structure, and Anticancer Activity of a Dinuclear Organoplatinum(IV) Complex Stabilized by Adenine."  O'Brien, Alisha M.; Wheeler, Kraig A.; Howard, William A.  Compounds 2025, 5, 16-27.
  • "Anticancer Activity of Nonpolar Pt(CH3)2I2{bipy} Is Found to be Superior among Four Similar Organoplatinum(IV) Complexes."  Arabi, Ameneh; Cogley, Marcus O.; Fabrizio, Daniel; Stitz, Shadrach; Howard, William A.; Wheeler, Kraig A.  J. Mol. Struct. 2023, 1274, 134551.

Education

  • Postdoc 1997, University of California Berkeley (Organometallic Chemistry)
  • Ph.D. 1995, Columbia University (Inorganic Chemistry)
  • B.S. 1990, Tulane University (Chemistry)

Contact

Phone: 907-474-6019
Fax: 907-474-5640
Email: wahoward@alaska.edu
Address:
William A. Howard
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
花椒直播
Fairbanks, AK 99775-6160