Indiana University
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The Gill Center for Biomolecular Science

Richard D. DiMarchi | Faculty

Richard D. DiMarchiProfessor and Chair, Department of Chemistry

Office: Chemistry A508
TEL: 856-1840
Email: rdimarch@indiana.edu

DiMarchi Group Website

Education

  • Ph.D. at Indiana University, 1979
  • B.S. at Florida Atlantic University, 1974

Research

  • Biochemistry
  • Bioorganic Chemistry
  • Chemical Biology
  • Proteomics

Richard DiMarchi is the Linda & Jack Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences, Professor and Chairman of Chemistry at Indiana University. He is a retired Group Vice President at Eli Lilly & Company where for more than two decades he provided leadership in biotechnology, endocrine research and product development. He is a co-founder of Ambrx, Inc. and Marcadia Biotech. He serves as a board member to Ambrx, Marcadia, Isis Pharmaceuticals, and Alba Therapeutics. He is a scientific advisor to Epitome Biosciences, Kai Pharmaceuticals, Semafore Biotechnologies, and three venture funds; 5AM, TMP, and Twilight.

Professor DiMarchi is readily recognized for discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humalog® (LisPro-human insulin). This designer insulin represents the first demonstration that structurally altered rDNA-derived biosynthetic proteins can improve pharmacological performance without increasing the risk of an abnormal immunological response. As scientist and administrator Dr. DiMarchi also contributed to the commercial development of Humulin®, Humatrope®, Xigris®, rGlucagon®, Evista®, and Forteo®. 

The goal of his current research and commercial endeavors is to develop proteins with enhanced therapeutic properties through biochemical optimization with non-natural amino acids, an approach he has termed chemical-biotechnology.  He has published more than one hundred papers and he is co-inventor on ninety patents. He recently received the 2005 AAPS Career Research Achievement Award in Biotechnology, the 2006 ACS Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management, the 2006 ACS Gustavus Esselen Award for Chemistry in the Service of Public Interest, and the 2007 Wallace Carothers Award for Excellence in Polymer Sciences.

Media Links

ABC News- Wellness News

Mail Online-Health

Radio New Zealand National

Representative Publications

  • "A new glucagon and GLP-1 co-agonist eliminates obesity in rodents." With J. Day et al. Nature (2008) (online).

  • Li, Pengyun; Rogers, Tanya; Smiley, David; DiMarchi, Richard D.; Zhang, Faming. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of anti-obesity peptide hormone   oxyntomodulin.  Protein & Peptide Letters  (2008), 15(2), 232-234.

  • De, Arnab; DiMarchi, Richard D. Investigation of the Feasibility of an Amide-based Prodrug Under Physiological Conditions. International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics (2008), 14(3), 255-262.

  • Cantel, Sonia; Le Chevalier Isaad, Alexandra; Scrima, Mario; Levy, Jay J.; DiMarchi, Richard D.; Rovero, Paolo; Halperin, Jose A.; D'Ursi, Anna Maria; Papini, Anna Maria; Chorev, Michael. Synthesis and conformational analysis of a cyclic peptide obtained via i to i+4 intramolecular side-chain to side-chain azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. Journal of Organic Chemistry (2008), 73(15), 5663-5674.

  • Li, Pengyun; Rogers, Tanya; Smiley, David; DiMarchi, Richard D.; Zhang, Faming. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of anti-obesity peptide hormone oxyntomodulin.  Protein & Peptide Letters  (2008), 15(2), 232-234.

  • Kohn, W.D., Micanovic, R., Myers, S.L., Vick, A.M., Kahl, S., Zhang, L., Strifler, B., Li, S., Shang, S., Beals, J., Mayer, J.P. and DiMarchi, R.D.  pI-shifted Basal Insulin Analogs With Extended in vivo Time Action and Favorable Receptor Selectivity.  Peptides (2007) 28 935-948.

  • Rubén Nogueiras, Paul Pfluger, Sulay Tovar, Arnold Myrtha, Sharon Mitchell, Amanda    Morris, Diego Perez-Tilve, Maria J. Vázquez, Petra Wiedmer, Tamara R. Castañeda, Richard DiMarchi, Matthias Tschöp, Annette Schurmann, Hans-Georg Joost, Lynda M. Williams, Wolfgang Langhans, and Carlos Dieguez. Effects of obestatin on energy balance and growth hormone secretion in rodents. Endocrinology (2007) 148(1)  21-26.

  • Yan, Liang Zeng; Hsiung, Hansen M.; Heiman, Mark L.; Gadski, Robert A.; Emmerson,    Paul J.; Hertel, JeAnne; Flora, David; Edwards, Patrick; Smiley, Dave; Zhang, Lianshan; Husain, Saba; Kahl, Steven D.;DiMarchi, Richard D.; Mayer, John P. Structure-activity relationships of MSH derived melanocortin-4 receptor peptide agonists. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry (Sharjah, United Arab Emirates) (2007), 7(11),1052-1067.

  • Mayer, John P.; Zhang, Faming; DiMarchi, Richard D. Insulin structure and function. Biopolymers (2007), 88(5), 687-713.
  • "Insulin Analogues and their Potential in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus." with G.B. Bolli, G.D. Park, S. Pramming, and V.A. Koivisto. Diabetologia, 42, 1151-1167 (1999)
  • "Crystal Structure of the Obese Protein Leptin-E100." With F. Zhang et al. Nature, 387, 206-209 (1998).
  • "Prevention of Vascular and Neural Dysfunction in Diabetic Rats by C-peptide." with Y. Ido, Y. et al. Science, 277, 563-566 (1997).
  • "The Rapid Identification of HIV Protease Inhibitors Through the Synthesis and Screening of Defined Peptide Mixtures." with R.A. Owens, P.D. Gesellchen, B.J. Houchins. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 181, 402-408 (1991).
  • "Protection of Cattle Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease by a Synthetic Peptide". DiMarchi et al. Science, 232, 639-641 (1986).