Victor Jonathan, a fast-rising Nigerian chemist and biochemist based in the United States, is advancing a project that could help reimagine global cancer treatment. His research focuses on synthesizing Hamigeromycin B, a rare biologically active natural product with potential against cancer, malaria, and microbial infections.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, claiming nearly 10 million lives every year. With cases projected to rise by 47% by 2040, researchers like Jonathan are racing to uncover new therapeutic breakthroughs. He stated that “Nature has given us answers to enduring health challenges—we just need to uncover them.”
Raised in Nigeria by a pharmacist father and an agriculturist mother, Jonathan grew up surrounded by science. His interest in natural products was born early. At Obafemi Awolowo University, where he graduated top of his class in Biochemistry, Jonathan researched chili pepper compounds and their influence on neurodegenerative conditions. That work emphasized a fast-emerging reality in medicine: nutraceuticals—natural, food-derived compounds—hold promise far beyond nutrition.
Now at Tennessee Technological University for his Master’s in Chemistry, Jonathan has turned to advanced synthetic biochemistry. His project develops an enantioselective synthetic pathway to Hamigeromycin B, enabling scalable production and structural modifications. His focus is clear: cancer’s survival proteins.
Studies show that over 60% of cancers rely on the protein HSP90, making it one of the most attractive drug targets in oncology. By inhibiting HSP90, Jonathan’s analogs could simultaneously disrupt multiple tumor growth pathways.
“By synthesizing Hamigeromycin B, I am turning a fungal metabolite into a lab-accessible contender with anticancer, antimalarial, and antibiotic potential.” It is believed that about tens of millions of people die from cancer annually (WHO). And cancer cases expected to rise 47% by 2040. Also, over 50% of FDA-approved cancer drugs are derived from natural products. It is estimated that 60%+ of cancers depend on HSP90 for tumor survival.
“Nature has long been a goldmine for drug discovery,” Jonathan explained. “Over half of all modern oncology drugs are derived from natural compounds.” Hamigeromycin B belongs to the Resorcylic Acid Lactones (RALs), a class of compounds with well-documented biological activity, including antimicrobial and anti-malarial effects. Radicicol, a cousin of Hamigeromycin B, is already known for its anticancer potential.
Jonathan’s innovation lies in making Hamigeromycin B accessible in the lab, bypassing the limitations of extraction. This allows for post-synthetic tweaks—improving potency, reducing side effects, and tailoring analogs for different therapeutic needs.
Jonathan plans to advance to doctoral studies and deepen his focus on natural products in cancer therapy. His immediate goal: run in vitro enzyme assays to test the potency of his synthetic compounds against cancer targets.
“The ultimate aim,” he said, “is to ensure that natural products are not just promising in theory, but actually translated into improved health and brighter futures.”
With cancer still remaining an enduring health challenge claiming millions of people every year, Jonathan’s work embodies the urgency of medical innovation. By bridging Nigeria’s academic excellence with U.S. research resources, he joins a new wave of African scientists shaping the future of global health.