Diversity in Life Sciences

Dr. Florastina Payton-Stewart received a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1999 and her PhD in Bioorganic Chemistry at Tulane University in 2007. After receiving her Ph.D., Dr. Payton-Stewart held a postdoctoral position at Tulane University Medical School from 2007-2010. She is the recipient of various honors, such as the Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans Fellowship, the GALA Dissertation Writing Fellowship, the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium Fellowship the Susan G. Komen Postdoctoral Fellowship. She joined the Chemistry department faculty at Xavier University in August 2010. During her tenure at Xavier University of Louisiana, she has mentored and trained several undergraduate students, technicians, and a postdoctoral fellow on projects related to the biological activity of natural phytoalexins.

Dr. Payton-Stewart's research focuses on identifying novel therapeutics for cancer through the incorporation two discrete disciplines, synthetic chemistry and molecular biology. The Payton-Stewart research projects involves the design, synthesis, characterization, and biological screening of novel anti-cancer agents. The research further involves understanding the molecular mechanism and biological activity of naturally occurring plant phytoalexins and their analogs as they pertain to breast carcinomas. One major focus of the Payton-Stewart research laboratory is to identify the structural activity relationship (SAR) of synthesize analogs. This research laboratory designs anti-cancer agents for various forms of cancer such prostate, triple negative breast cancer, endocrine resistant breast cancer and lung cancer.