Prof. Dr. Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

University of Michigan Medical School Department of Pathology | United States

Prof. Dr. Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska is an accomplished pharmaceutical chemist and molecular pharmacologist recognized for her groundbreaking work in the design, synthesis, and development of molecularly targeted small molecules for cancer treatment. She earned her foundational and advanced degrees in pharmaceutical chemistry from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, where she also began her academic career as a young assistant and later advanced through multiple teaching and research positions. Her dedication to chemical sciences and biomedical innovation led her to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.Dr. Nikolovska-Coleska’s research is centered on the discovery of small molecule inhibitors that target protein–protein interactions involved in apoptosis, oncogenic signaling pathways, and epigenetic regulation. Her laboratory investigates mechanisms such as Mcl-1–Bim/Noxa, Bfl-1–Bim/Noxa, EZH2–p38 MAP kinase interactions, and histone methyltransferase activities, contributing to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for various malignancies. Through her integrative approach, combining chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, and translational oncology, she has developed promising compounds for the modulation of signaling pathways implicated in cancer progression and resistance.Her clinical and translational research extends into precision medicine, where she applies functional assays to predict anti-cancer drug responses, aiming to enhance individualized therapeutic strategies. As a clinician-research scholar and educator, she has mentored numerous postdoctoral fellows, clinical trainees, and graduate students, guiding them in developing innovative research methodologies and critical scientific reasoning.Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Nikolovska-Coleska has played pivotal roles in multiple large-scale research initiatives, serving as Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, and Mentor on numerous national and international grants focused on cancer biology, aging, and drug discovery. Her collaborations with global scientific institutions and pharmaceutical organizations have contributed to the advancement of targeted therapies, including the development of inhibitors against oncogenic proteins such as DOT1L, Mcl-1, EZH2, and PAPP-A.In addition to her research excellence, Dr. Nikolovska-Coleska has made outstanding contributions to academic leadership. As Director of the Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Program and Associate Director of Academic Programs in Biomedical Sciences, she has overseen curriculum development, student recruitment, academic policy, and interdisciplinary research training. Her vision continues to shape the next generation of biomedical scientists, emphasizing the integration of molecular insights with clinical applications.Through her scholarly achievements, mentorship, and leadership, Prof. Dr. Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska stands as a leading figure in pharmaceutical chemistry and translational oncology, dedicated to advancing science that bridges molecular discovery with therapeutic innovation.

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Featured Publications

Ding, K., Lu, Y., Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Wang, G., Qiu, S., Shangary, S., Gao, W., et al. (2006). Structure-based design of spiro-oxindoles as potent, specific small-molecule inhibitors of the MDM2−p53 interaction. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 49(12), 3432–3435.

Shangary, S., Qin, D., McEachern, D., Liu, M., Miller, R. S., Qiu, S., et al. (2008). Temporal activation of p53 by a specific MDM2 inhibitor is selectively toxic to tumors and leads to complete tumor growth inhibition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(10), 3933–3938.

Ding, K., Lu, Y., Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Qiu, S., Ding, Y., Gao, W., Stuckey, J., et al. (2005). Structure-based design of potent non-peptide MDM2 inhibitors. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 127(29), 10130–10131.

Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Wang, R., Fang, X., Pan, H., Tomita, Y., Li, P., Roller, P. P., et al. (2004). Development and optimization of a binding assay for the XIAP BIR3 domain using fluorescence polarization. Analytical Biochemistry, 332(2), 261–273.

Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Xu, L., Hu, Z., Tomita, Y., Li, P., Roller, P. P., Wang, R., et al. (2004). Discovery of embelin as a cell-permeable, small-molecular-weight inhibitor of XIAP through structure-based computational screening of a traditional herbal medicine. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 47(10), 2430–2440.

Bagherian, M., Sabeti, E., Wang, K., Sartor, M. A., Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., et al. (2021). Machine learning approaches and databases for prediction of drug–target interaction: A survey paper. Briefings in Bioinformatics, 22(1), 247–269.

Wang, G., Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Yang, C. Y., Wang, R., Tang, G., Guo, J., et al. (2006). Structure-based design of potent small-molecule inhibitors of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 49(21), 6139–6142.