Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Jeffrey Neighbors’ lab is focused on drug development. One current research project is centered on the development of novel agents which inhibit steps in the mevalonate (cholesterol synthesis) pathway to reduce transcription of genes targeted by the Hippo pathway transcription factor TAZ as potential treatments for osteosarcoma.
Additionally, the lab is studying the potential for statin drugs that inhibit this same pathway as treatment for neuroblastoma and other cancers.
A completely different project looks at a family of natural products, pawhuskins, isolated from a prairie plant, that have antagonist activity at several opioid receptors and are under investigation for the potential to increase wound healing by inhibiting opioid growth factor activity.
Before coming to Penn State, Dr. Neighbors worked for a small biotech company driving the drug development efforts and has experience integrating development activity across disciplines from chemical synthesis to pharmacokinetics and ADME/DMPK studies.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 7 Finished
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Feasibility study of GGDPS inhibition for osteoporosis
Neighbors, J. (PI)
9/1/13 → 8/31/14
Project: Research project
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Schweinfurthins: novel treatment for breast cancer
Neighbors, J. (PI)
8/11/10 → 7/31/12
Project: Research project
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Developing Schweinfurthin Analogs as Glioma Therapies
Neighbors, J. (PI)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
9/22/09 → 9/14/12
Project: Research project
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Pawhuskins: Potential Treatments for Stimulant Abuse.
Neighbors, J. (PI)
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
6/1/09 → 5/31/10
Project: Research project
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Improving the Distribution of Geranylgeranyl Diphosphate synthase inhibitors.
Neighbors, J. (PI)
4/6/09 → 3/31/11
Project: Research project
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Bisphosphonate-Conjugated Sitafloxacin for Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus Infection Associated with Cortical Bone Screws: Case Series in Sheep Model
Vanvelk, N., Tapia-Dean, J., Zeiter, S., de Mesy Bentley, K., Xie, C., Ebetino, F. H., Sun, S., Neighbors, J., Schwarz, E. M. & Moriarty, T. F., May 2025, In: Pharmaceuticals. 18, 5, 675.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Schweinfurthins and their analogues are highly selective cellular probes for oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP)
Depta, L., He, N., Madsen, M. L., Nielsen, M. L. H., Bryce-Rogers, H. P., Waterworth, S. C., Neighbors, J. D., Stockdale, D. P., Callahan, M. P., Mente, N. R., Wiemer, D. F., Beutler, J. A. & Laraia, L., Dec 1 2025, In: RSC Medicinal Chemistry. 16, 12, p. 6262-6274 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Systematic review of drug-drug interactions of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and Cannabis
Nachnani, R., Knehans, A., Neighbors, J. D., Kocis, P. T., Lee, T., Tegeler, K., Trite, T., Raup-Konsavage, W. M. & Vrana, K. E., 2024, In: Frontiers in Pharmacology. 15, 1282831.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access16 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Evidence of bisphosphonate-conjugated sitafloxacin eradication of established methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection with osseointegration in murine models of implant-associated osteomyelitis
Ren, Y., Weeks, J., Xue, T., Rainbolt, J., de Mesy Bentley, K. L., Shu, Y., Liu, Y., Masters, E., Cherian, P., McKenna, C. E., Neighbors, J., Ebetino, F. H., Schwarz, E. M., Sun, S. & Xie, C., Dec 2023, In: Bone Research. 11, 1, 51.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access19 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Real-Time Impedance-Based Monitoring of the Growth and Inhibition of Osteomyelitis Biofilm Pathogen Staphylococcus aureus Treated with Novel Bisphosphonate-Fluoroquinolone Antimicrobial Conjugates
Sedghizadeh, P. P., Cherian, P., Roshandel, S., Tjokro, N., Chen, C., Junka, A. F., Hu, E., Neighbors, J., Pawlak, J., Russell, R. G. G., McKenna, C. E., Ebetino, F. H., Sun, S. & Sodagar, E., Feb 2023, In: International journal of molecular sciences. 24, 3, 1985.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access7 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations