K.C. Nicolaou, Ph.D.
K.C. Nicolaou, Ph.D.
Rice University
Titles & Positions

  • Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Chemistry

Institutional & Related Links

Profile

Biography

Grant Information

Grant ID: R1226
Grant Mechanism: 
Recruitment of Established Investigators
Recruited From: 
The Scripps Research Institute
Date Awarded: 
August 02, 2012
Grant Amount: 
$6,000,000

K.C. Nicolaou joined Rice’s faculty in 2013. His specialty is total synthesis, an area of organic chemistry dedicated to the complete synthesis of nature’s most complex molecules.

He is best known for publishing the first complete synthetic pathway to the natural substance taxol. Marketed as the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel, taxol is used to treat ovarian, breast, lung, pancreatic and other cancers and is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.