Jordan Koehn, PhD, is a co-founder of ForagR Medicines, an innovative biotechnology company established in 2024 alongside scientists Kevin Weeks, PhD, and Andrea Epperly, PhD. ForagR Medicines is dedicated to developing transformative RNA-targeted small-molecule therapeutics with the potential to revolutionize human health. As Head of Platform and Chemical Genomics, he leads the company's drug discovery efforts, utilizing cutting-edge RNA-targeting technologies to create novel therapeutics for diseases with limited treatment options.
Throughout his career, Jordan has demonstrated a commitment to solving critical challenges in healthcare by advancing biotechnology. During his postdoctoral work at the University of North Carolina (UNC) with Dr. Kevin Weeks, he developed an innovative transcriptome-wide RNA-ligand discovery technology, which has since evolved into the ForagR Medicines drug discovery platform. This technology enables scientists to study how complex RNA structures influence biological functions, unlocking new opportunities to target RNA for therapeutic intervention. His research has led to the discovery and characterization of numerous novel RNA elements that small-molecule ligands can modulate.
Koehn recognized early on that RNA offers unique therapeutic potential, especially when conventional protein-targeting approaches are not viable. His work focuses on developing RNA-targeted small-molecule medicines, a new class of therapeutics designed to modulate RNA structures and functions. His expertise spans multiple scientific fields, including organic chemistry, molecular biology, RNA structural biology, and chemical genomics, making him a leader in this emerging area of biotechnology.
As the head architect of the ForagR platform, Jordan plays a pivotal role in driving the company's scientific and technological strategies. He leads a multidisciplinary team that uses innovative chemistry and genomics tools to create RNA-targeted therapeutics with broad potential applications. Under his leadership, the platform has become a cornerstone of ForagR's drug discovery efforts, helping to develop treatments for diseases previously considered untreatable with conventional methods.
Jordan Koehn's expertise is not limited to human therapeutics. He also led a successful collaboration with BASF Corporation to apply ForagR's RNA-targeting technology to agriculture. This partnership resulted in the development of novel insecticides and crop protection agents, demonstrating versatility and broad applicability of the ForagR platform. His ability to manage complex interdisciplinary projects and foster collaborative research initiatives positions him as a critical figure in both biotechnology and agriculture innovation.
