Stevan Pecic, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Office: MH-582A, Lab: DBH-179

Phone: 657-278-2471

I received a Dipl. Pharm. degree from the University of Belgrade in Serbia. Then I obtained my doctorate degree in Biochemistry with a concentration in Medicinal Chemistry from The Graduate Center of The City University of New York. For the next 8 years, I continued my career as an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University Medical Center in the Division of Experimental Therapeutics. I joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at CSUF in Fall 2018 as an Assistant Professor. During my career, I have authored many peer-reviewed publications and have a patent related to the enzyme soluble epoxide hydrolase.

Stevan Pecic photo

Research Interests

Our main research interests are focused on identification of novel inhibitors of enzymes involved in lipid metabolism and their evaluation as potential therapeutics. Through traditional medicinal chemistry techniques, including in silico drug design, organic synthesis, structure-activity relationship studies and in vitro biological evaluations, our goal is directed toward elucidation of the pharmacology and biochemistry of lipid metabolism and pathophysiology of related diseases.

Prospective U-RISE students should visit our lab webpage: www.PecicLab.com and contact me at: specic@fullerton.edu

Fun Facts

Before coming to CSUF I lived in New York for 13 years and did a 7-day road trip from NYC to Fullerton in 2018.

My favorite scientists are Nikola Tesla and Mihailo Pupin, both Serbian-American inventors.

I am a huge fan of coffee and Greek food.

Publications

Angelia, J; Weng, X; Solomatov, A; Chin, C; Fernandez, A; Hudson, PK; Morisseau, C; Hammock, BD; Kandasamy, R; Pecic, S. Structure-activity relationship studies of benzothiazole-phenyl analogs as multi-target ligands to alleviate pain without affecting normal behavior. Prostaglandins & Other Lipid Mediators (2023), 164, 106702.

Stec, J; Xie, S; Alshukri, L; Kang, GJ; Hudson, PK; Pecic, S. Convenient synthesis and in vitro activity of oxalyl bis(benzenesulfonylhydrazides) and related compounds. Results in Chemistry (2023), 5, 100860.

Makarian, M; Gonzalez, M; Salvador, SM; Lorzadeh, S; Hudson, PK; Pecic, S. Synthesis, kinetic evaluation and molecular modeling studies of donepezil-based acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Journal of Molecular Structure, (2022), 1247, 131425.

Wilt, S; Kodani, S; Valencia, L; Hudson, PK; Sanchez, S; Quintana, T; Morisseau, C; Hammock, B. D.; Kandasamy, R; Pecic, S. Further exploration of the structure-activity relationship of dual soluble epoxide hydrolase/fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, (2021), 51, 116507.

Wilt, S; Kodani, S; Thanh LN ; Nguyen, L; Nghi, V; Ly, T; Rodriguez, M; Hudson, P; Morisseau, C, Hammock, BD; Pecic, S. Development of multitarget inhibitors for the treatment of pain: design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling studies. Bioorganic Chemistry, (2020), 103: 104165.

Wilt, S; Rodriguez, M; Thanh LN; Baltodano, EV; Salas, A; Pecic, S. Design, Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Modeling Studies of 4‐Phenylthiazoles as Potent Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Inhibitors. Chemical Biology & Drug Design, (2020), 95:534–547.