By Ayo Onikoyi

In a dedicated effort to improve global health outcomes, Lukman Abidemi Bello, a fourth-year PhD candidate at Purdue University, West Lafayette, is harnessing the power of analytical and synthetic organic chemistry to develop innovative reactions towards discovering potent analogues of existing HIV drugs.

Abidemi’s academic journey is distinguished by outstanding achievements. He graduated with a First-Class degree in Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), in 2016, and later earned a Distinction in MSc Analytical Science and Instrumentation from the University of Warwick, Coventry, in 2020, under the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. His academic excellence and passion for addressing global health challenges drive his focus on HIV drug discovery.

In a recent discussion, Abidemi emphasized the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis, noting that by the end of 2023, approximately 40 million people were living with HIV globally, with 1.3 million new cases recorded in 2023 and projections for another 1.2 million in 2024. These statistics highlight the urgent need for innovation in HIV treatment, a challenge Abidemi is addressing through his research.

Over time, various treatments, including antiretrovirals, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy, have been used to combat HIV/AIDS, with 98% of approved HIV drugs being antiretrovirals. These drugs are made by identifying HIV target enzymes, synthesizing molecules through organic reactions, and purifying them using advanced analytical techniques.

Given the effectiveness of antiretrovirals, Abidemi’s research focuses on leveraging both analytical and organic chemistry to synthesize and characterize new ligands for the development of next-generation HIV drugs. This research aligns with the United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Fast-Track Agenda, which aims to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Abidemi is using his expertise in synthetic organic chemistry to develop novel reactions to access unprecedented ligands towards creating potent analogues of existing HIV drugs. To date, he has successfully synthesized over thirty ligands, purifying and characterizing them with modern analytical techniques.

In addition to his work in analytical and synthetic chemistry,  Abidemi is collaborating with computational chemists to complement his experimental findings. By utilizing In Silico simulations, they can evaluate the interaction of newly synthesized ligands with HIV target enzymes. Through molecular docking and dynamics simulations, they are able to predict and optimize the behavior of these ligands within the active site of the enzyme, increasing the likelihood of discovering highly effective treatments.

By integrating analytical, synthetic chemistry, and computational techniques, Abidemi is significantly contributing to the future of HIV treatment. His work not only advances current therapies but also supports the broader goal of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030, as outlined by UNAIDS.