Pharmacy assistant professor’s research fueled by his passion to help others
John Fetse has always been fascinated by how medicine works and is using that curiosity to find better treatment methods
The ý School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has become a home for several new faculty members over the last year. With these new faces walking the halls and in the labs conducting research, many are taking time to share their work and why they chose ý.
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences John Fetse joined ý in 2025. Before this, he was an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Larkin University College of Pharmacy in Miami for two years.
He earned his Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. He later completed a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where his doctoral research focused on developing peptide-based immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy. His work involved peptide optimization and nanocarrier design strategies to overcome biological barriers, leading to the development of orally bioavailable peptides.
Currently, his research focuses on discovering novel peptides as protein-protein interaction modulators, designing lipid nanoparticles for biologics delivery and developing biomaterials for minimally invasive therapeutics. We sat down with Fetse to learn more about his journey and passion in the world of pharmacy.
Take us through your journey to ý.
I started out as a professional pharmacist, training overseas and working directly with patients. It was exciting to recommend medications and be part of patient care, but I realized I wanted to do more — to be part of designing and discovering the medications themselves.
That led me to pursue a PhD at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where I focused on drug delivery and peptide drug discovery. We worked on identifying peptide drugs to treat cancer, which was incredibly rewarding. After that, I moved into academia, first in Miami and now here at ý, where I have access to amazing resources and collaborative opportunities to expand my research.
What inspired you to begin this journey in pharmacy?
Growing up, I was always fascinated by how medicine works — the idea that a person could be sick one day, take a pill or an injection and suddenly get better. It seemed almost like magic to me. As I got older, I wanted to understand that process more deeply.
I learned that while we have treatments for many diseases, conditions like cancer, hypertension and diabetes still lack fully effective solutions. That realization made me want to contribute to developing better treatments, and it continues to drive my research today.
How would you describe your time at ý so far?
One word I’d use to describe ý’s School of Pharmacy is “supportive.” In academia, it’s not always common to see faculty working together, as many tend to stay in their own silos. But here, I’ve found an environment where colleagues genuinely want to see each other succeed.
There’s a culture of collaboration, where ideas are shared and everyone is encouraged to grow in their research. That kind of atmosphere is rare, and it’s something that makes this place special.
Why are peptides the focus of your research?
Peptides are fascinating because they sit in this middle ground between small-molecule drugs and large biologics. Small molecules have been around forever, but they often come with toxicity and specificity issues.
Biologics, on the other hand, are highly effective but are large and must be administered through injections, which can be a barrier for patients. Peptides combine the best of both worlds — they can be as effective as biologics while being small and adaptable enough to act like small molecules. This opens up possibilities for more patient-friendly treatments, including oral medications.
What has surprised you in your research?
One of the most exciting moments in my research was when we discovered that only a small fraction of a peptide’s structure was responsible for its therapeutic effect. Initially, we were focused on developing peptides for cancer treatment, but this discovery changed our approach.
We began isolating these small fractions to see if they could be used on their own, and to our surprise, they worked. This opened up the possibility of creating oral peptide medications that could be absorbed like small molecules. It was a breakthrough moment that shifted the direction of our work and expanded what we thought was possible.
What sort of challenges do you far in this research?
The field of pharmaceutical sciences is incredibly challenging, especially for young scientists. There are constant obstacles — whether it’s funding, the complexity of research or the long timeline it takes to see results.
But what keeps me going is the impact this work can have. The idea that something we’re developing in the lab today could one day improve or even save lives makes all the challenges worth it. For anyone entering this field, I’d say hold onto that excitement and let it drive you forward.