Rate My Professor Richard DiMarchi

Richard DiMarchi is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Linda & Jack Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington, where he previously served as Chairman of the Chemistry Department from 2005 to 2007. He received a B.S. in Chemistry with honors from Florida Atlantic University (1974), a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Indiana University (1979) under Dr. Frank Gurd, and a postdoctoral fellowship in solid-phase chemical synthesis from Rockefeller University (1981) under Dr. Bruce Merrifield. From 1981 to 2003, DiMarchi advanced at Eli Lilly Research Laboratories from Senior Research Scientist to Group Vice President of Biotechnology and Product Development, leading the discovery and development of rDNA-derived therapeutics including Humalog®, the first human insulin analog for rapid glucose control, rGlucagon®, and Forteo® for osteoporosis treatment. Since joining Indiana University in 2003 as Standiford H. Cox Professor, he has co-founded eight biotechnology companies, including Ambrx and Marcadia Biotech, and served as a scientific advisor to Ferring, Merck, Roche, and venture funds.

DiMarchi's research specializes in peptide therapeutics and chemical biology, focusing on single-molecule multi-mechanism peptide agonists targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors to advance treatments for diabetes, obesity, and metabolic diseases. His laboratory's discoveries have enabled a new class of incretin mimetics transforming clinical outcomes worldwide. He holds over 100 U.S. patents and has authored more than 275 peer-reviewed publications, including 'Protection of cattle against foot-and-mouth disease by a synthetic peptide' (Science, 1986) and 'A new glucagon and GLP-1 co-agonist eliminates obesity in rodents' (Nature Chemical Biology, 2009). His contributions have earned election to the National Academy of Medicine and National Inventors Hall of Fame, the 2024 Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award (AAAS), 2026 Rolf Luft Award, 2016 ACS Alfred Burger Award in Medicinal Chemistry, 2011 Merrifield Award, 2015 Meienhofer Prize, 2015 Max Bergmann Medal, and others.