mclane

Richard McLane: Medical Man

By Emily Warpool,
Dean's Office, College of Arts & Sciences

Richard McLane is a Senior at NKU that has dedicated his time and research to helping others. Through his work in the chemistry department to his volunteer efforts at the UC Medical Center, Richard is working tirelessly to make an impact in the world of medical science.

Through his research group at NKU with Dr. Amber Onorato, Richard has been working on artificially synthesizing a naturally occurring chemical called a diarylheptanoid for use of its anti-inflammatory properties. It is structurally similar to existing antifungal medications, and through his research and experimentation, Richard hopes to add improvements to the existing drug.

In his freshman year, Richard sought out Dr. Onorato’s medical organic chemistry research because it was of special interest to him. Now a Senior, Richard has still kept his focus on the medical applications of Chemistry.

Since his freshman year, Richard has also volunteered over 500 hours at University of Cincinnati Medical Center Emergency room, Intensive Care Unit, and the Barrett Cancer Center. After completing his undergraduate degree, Richard hopes to attend medical school with ambitions of becoming a physician.