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Charles McKenna, PhD
Professor of Chemistry & Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Studies

Charles McKenna received his Ph. D in Chemistry at UC San Diego and was an NIH postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University. He then accepted a faculty position at the University of Southern California (USC) where he is now Professor of Chemistry & Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences. During the past decade, he was Chair of the Chemistry Department and then Dornsife College Vice Dean for Natural Sciences & Mathematics and currently directs the USC Drug Discovery Center.

His research interests in medicinal and bioorganic phosphorus chemistry include bisphosphonate imaging probes and therapeutics for bone diseases including bone cancers, nucleotide probes of DNA and RNA polymerases, design of novel anti-infective agents, and more effective approaches to cancer drug design. McKenna is the author of nearly 270 publications and patents and recipient of numerous awards for his research and teaching. He has also founded two biotech companies.

Research Focus

Cancer Therapeutics
DNA Repair Mechanisms
Drug Design & Development
Imaging Probes


Education

BA

PhD

Oakland University- 1966
University of California, San Diego- 1971

Awards

  • USC Stevens Technology Commercialization Award, 2017
  • USC Fellow, National Academy of Inventors, 2017
  • USC Dornsife Dean's Award for Distinguished Service, 2017
  • Chevalier, or Knight, in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Academic Palms), 2012
  • Mellon Mentoring Award, 2011
  • USC Provost’s Prize for Teaching with Technology, 2010
  • USC General Education Distinguished Service Teaching Award, 2009
  • USC Raubenheimer Outstanding Senior Faculty Award, 2009
  • USC Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition Award, 2007
  • CET Distinguished Faculty Fellow Award, 2006
  • USC Associates Award For Excellence In Teaching, 2006
  • Oakland University Chemistry Department Distinguished Alumni Award, 2005
  • Oakland University Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, 2005
  • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2005
  • NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 1972-1973

Leadership

  • Full Member, Molecular Genetics, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2013-Present
  • Founder and Chair, Scientific Board, BioVinc LLC, 2013-Present
  • Founding Member, Bridge Institute, 2016-Present
  • Director, USC Core Center of Excellence for Drug Discovery, 2017-Present

Selected Publications

    Charles McKenna, PhD
    Professor of Chemistry & Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Studies

    Charles McKenna received his Ph. D in Chemistry at UC San Diego and was an NIH postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University. He then accepted a faculty position at the University of Southern California (USC) where he is now Professor of Chemistry & Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences. During the past decade, he was Chair of the Chemistry Department and then Dornsife College Vice Dean for Natural Sciences & Mathematics and currently directs the USC Drug Discovery Center.

    His research interests in medicinal and bioorganic phosphorus chemistry include bisphosphonate imaging probes and therapeutics for bone diseases including bone cancers, nucleotide probes of DNA and RNA polymerases, design of novel anti-infective agents, and more effective approaches to cancer drug design. McKenna is the author of nearly 270 publications and patents and recipient of numerous awards for his research and teaching. He has also founded two biotech companies.

    Research Focus

    Cancer Therapeutics
    DNA Repair Mechanisms
    Drug Design & Development
    Imaging Probes 

    Education

    MD

    Oakland University- 1966

    PhD

    University of California, San Diego- 1971

    Awards

    • USC Stevens Technology Commercialization Award, 2017
    • USC Fellow, National Academy of Inventors, 2017
    • USC Dornsife Dean's Award for Distinguished Service, 2017
    • Chevalier, or Knight, in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of Academic Palms), 2012
    • Mellon Mentoring Award, 2011
    • USC Provost’s Prize for Teaching with Technology, 2010
    • USC General Education Distinguished Service Teaching Award, 2009
    • USC Raubenheimer Outstanding Senior Faculty Award, 2009
    • USC Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition Award, 2007
    • CET Distinguished Faculty Fellow Award, 2006
    • USC Associates Award For Excellence In Teaching, 2006
    • Oakland University Chemistry Department Distinguished Alumni Award, 2005
    • Oakland University Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, 2005
    • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2005
    • NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 1972-1973

    Leadership

    • Full Member, Molecular Genetics, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2013-Present
    • Founder and Chair, Scientific Board, BioVinc LLC, 2013-Present
    • Founding Member, Bridge Institute, 2016-Present
    • Director, USC Core Center of Excellence for Drug Discovery, 2017-Present

    Selected Publications