Annaliese Franz and her lab are designing therapeutic molecules of the future. Through organic synthesis and catalysis, the team is building and improving molecules with therapeutic potential. Some current projects include developing a new nanoparticle technology for livestock vaccines and improving treatments for neurodegenerative disorders like epilepsy. 

UC Davis Professor of Chemistry Mark Mascal studies “pseudocannabinoids,” which are synthetic molecules that mimic the action of cannabinoids. Pseudocannabinoids can be completely synthesized from commercially available chemicals without the need for cultivating hemp, which can be land-, water- and energy-intensive.