Jaeok Park, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Research

Chemotherapy And Radiotherapy Drug Repurposing Targets And Biomarkers

Latest papers

Discovery and computational characterization of a novel cryptic pocket in human farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase.
Journal of structural biology · 2026 · senior author
Conformational flexibility of human ribokinase captured in seven crystal structures
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules · 2025 · senior author
Engineering dimer mutants of human geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase.
PloS one · 2025 · senior author

All 6 publications

Latest funding

Supporting Equitable Transitions for Youth with Chronic Conditions
CIHR · 2026 · Supervisor
$6,000
Structural characterization of mutant GGPPS variants in complex with small molecule ligands
CIHR · 2026 · Supervisor
$6,000
A new handle on a known target: structure-based discovery of FPP synthase inhibitors targeting a cryptic pocket
CIHR · 2023 · Nominated PI
$62,500

All 5 grants and awards

6 publications.

01

Discovery and computational characterization of a novel cryptic pocket in human farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase.

Pandya V, Wilson KA, Leung CY, Tsantrizos YS, Park J

Journal of structural biology2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2026.108316 PMID: 41865847

02

Conformational flexibility of human ribokinase captured in seven crystal structures

Akanmori NN, Junop MS, Gupta RS, Park J

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules20251 citationsSenior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140109

03

Engineering dimer mutants of human geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase.

Ezekiel SJ, Searle M, Park J

PloS one2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317437 PMID: 39813274

04

Inhibition of human mevalonate kinase by allosteric inhibitors of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase.

Salari S, Lee HF, Tsantrizos YS, Park J

FEBS open bio2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13853 PMID: 38923323

05

Structural and functional insights into esterase-mediated macrolide resistance.

Zieliński M, Park J, Sleno B, Berghuis AM

Nature communications2021

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22016-3 PMID: 33741980

06

Phosphonate and Bisphosphonate Inhibitors of Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Synthases: A Structure-Guided Perspective.

Park J, Pandya VR, Ezekiel SJ, Berghuis AM

Frontiers in chemistry2020First author

DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.612728 PMID: 33490038

Supporting Equitable Transitions for Youth with Chronic Conditions

SupervisorCIHR2026Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

Principal investigators: Asuming, Richard Nketiah

Keywords: Geranylgeranyl Pyrophosphate; Geranylgeranyl Pyrophosphate Synthase; Prenylation; Protein Prenylation

$6,000

Structural characterization of mutant GGPPS variants in complex with small molecule ligands

SupervisorCIHR2026Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

Principal investigators: Baah-Bempong, Kwaku

Keywords: Geranylgeranyl Pyrophosphate Synthase; Gtpases; Protein Prenylation

$6,000

A new handle on a known target: structure-based discovery of FPP synthase inhibitors targeting a cryptic pocket

Nominated PICIHR2023CIHR - ICR / Cancer Research Society Partnership - Research Grants

Principal investigators: Park, Jaeok

Keywords: Chemotherapy And Radiotherapy ; Drug Repurposing; Targets And Biomarkers

$62,500

Structural and functional studies of allosteric regulation of metabolic enzymes

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Launch Supplement

Principal investigators: Park, Jaeok

$12,500

Structural and functional studies of allosteric regulation of metabolic enzymes

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Park, Jaeok

$150,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Radhey Gupta

Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Chemotherapy And Radiotherapy Dear Professor Park, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Discovery and computational characterization of a novel cryptic pocket in human farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "A new handle on a known target: structure-based discovery of FPP synthase inhibitors targeting a cryptic pocket" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]