Regular biography
Katherine J. Franz is the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Duke University, affiliated with the Department of Chemistry in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on the structural and functional consequences of metal ion coordination in biological systems, particularly in managing toxic species like copper and iron. Her work combines synthesis, spectroscopy, and biochemistry to develop chemical tools for therapeutic applications. She is also a member of the Duke Cancer Institute and has contributed to antifungal research through studies on metal-dependent mechanisms. Her group explores how metal binding affects proteins like glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and investigates strategies to modulate metal ion behavior in biological contexts.
Scholar-generated biography
Katherine J. Franz is a Professor of Chemistry at Duke University, specializing in bioinorganic chemistry and the role of metals in biology. Her research explores how transition metals interact with biological systems, focusing on copper and lanthanide coordination chemistry. She investigates metal signaling, metalloplasia, and the development of metal-binding peptides for therapeutic applications. Her work includes the design of fluorescent sensors for metal ions and reactive oxygen species, as well as the study of metal coordination in neurodegenerative diseases. Franz's research bridges fundamental coordination chemistry with biomedical applications, emphasizing the importance of metal homeostasis in health and disease.