Principal Investigator

Dr. Taraman Kadayat is a pharmacy educator, medicinal chemist, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Larkin University College of Pharmacy. He has a keen interest in research and scholarly activities, particularly in promoting STEM educational practices, addressing health disparities, and the design and synthesis of small molecule drugs for therapeutic applications. Dr. Kadayat is experienced in structure-based drug design, small molecule synthesis, pharmacology, and chemical biology. Prior to joining Larkin University, he was a postdoctoral scholar working with Dr. Kip Guy at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. Dr. Kadayat holds a B. Pharm. from Pokhara University, Nepal, and an MS and PhD in Medicinal Chemistry from Yeungnam University College of Pharmacy, South Korea. From 2016 to 2021, he worked as a drug discovery chemist at the New Drug Development Center DGMIF, K-MEDIhub, refining skills in drug design and pharmacokinetic studies on topoisomerase, epigenetics, and nuclear receptor modulators. With over 10 years of teaching experience, Dr. Kadayat has mentored numerous students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He completed the Graduate Certificate in College Teaching and Learning (GCCTL) at the University of Kentucky, specializing in course design, active learning, student assessment, and promoting creativity, curiosity, and inclusivity. He has excelled in collaborative research, leadership, and securing extramural funding. He is the recipient of multiple academic awards, including the Pokhara University Merit Scholarship, the Dr. Hirotoshi Fushimi Award, the Korean Government Scholarship, and NRF-Korea Research Fellowship. He completed the NRF Korea Early Career Research Grant (2018-2021) focused on developing NSD2 histone lysine methyl transferase inhibitors. Dr. Kadayat holds 3 patents, has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers, scientific abstracts, and has presented his research at several conferences, including ACS, IUPAC, and the Gordon Research Conferences.

External Funding
2020–2023   Brain-Pool Program (Fund: ~US$ 140,000) KRF-2020H1D3A1A02081418 by the Korea Ministry of Science and ICT.
2018–2021   Early Career Independent Research Grant (Fund: ~US$ 130,000) NRF-2018R1D1A1B07047143  by National Research Foundation-Korea. 

Awards and Honors

• University of Kentucky Launch Blue UAccel Award (October 15, 2024)

• Shark Tank Award, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (August 8, 2024)

• Discovery Rockstar Award, NSF Regional Innovation Corps UK Cohorts (June 28, 2024)

• First Place, Annual Trainee Research Day Poster Competition 2024, University of Kentucky

• Second Place, Postdoc Talk Competition 2023, University of Kentucky

• Travel Grant, 2023 Gordon Research Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, New London, NH

• First Prize, Markey Cancer Center Poster Competition 2023, University of Kentucky

• Second Prize, TODD Symposium Poster Competition 2023, University of Kentucky

• First Prize, Global Impact Poster Competition 2022, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

• Travel Grant, 2022 Gordon Research Seminar in Medicinal Chemistry, New London, NH

• Korea Research Fellowship (KRF 2020) by the Korea Ministry of Science and ICT

• NRF Early Career Independent Research Grant 2018–2021, South Korea

• Young Scientist Award, PSK Medicinal Chemistry Workshop 2014, South Korea

• Excellence Award, National Essay Competition 2015, Korea Minister of Justice

• Korean Government Scholarship 2010–2013 by Ministry of Education, South Korea

• Dean’s Award for Recognition of an Outstanding Achievement by Pokhara University

• Dr. Hirotoshi Fushimi Progressive Academic Excellence Award of the Year 2008

• Dr. Katsuko Komatsu Crude Drug Monograph Writing Award of the Year 2008

• Pokhara University Merit Scholarship 2005–2009 Fellowship