We are interested in research questions that lie on the interface of chemistry and biology. The research projects that we are involved in are rooted within medicinal chemistry and biological chemistry, and we apply synthetic organic chemistry to address our research questions. The group has been instrumental for the establishment of the Laboratory for High-throughput experimentation - HTE@UiB, and the national infrastructure Norwegian Open Laboratory for High-Throughput Experimentation and Scale-up (NorHTE) which are both lead by Professor Haug. Several of our projects require access to synthetic peptides, and the group has established and runs the Peptide synthesis laboratory at the Department of Chemistry.

Visit the group webpages for more information.

Conference lecture

• Ruth Brenk; Bengt Erik Haug; Charis Georgiou (2022). TARGETING A PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA β-KETOACYL-(ACYL-CARRIER-PROTEIN) SYNTHASE WITH COVALENT INHIBITORS INSPIRED BY CERULENIN. (external link)
• Sunil Kumar Pandey; Yngve Guttormsen; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2015). Total synthesis of breitfussin A and B.. (external link)
• Michel Herranz Carnero; Angel Moldes-Anaya; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2022). Innovative molecular imaging technique for Granzyme-B characterization as an emerging biomarker for radio-immunotherapy combinations. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2025). Norwegian Open Laboratory forHigh-Throughput Experimentation and Scale-up NorHTE. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2012). Synthesis of piperidine derivatives. (external link)
• Ruth Brenk; Bengt Erik Haug; Jarl Underhaug et al. (2021). Targeting Bacterial Fatty Acid Synthesis using Fragment-Based Drug Design. (external link)
• Tahir Farooq; Bengt Erik Haug; Leiv Kristen Sydnes (2010). [3+2] Cycloaddition of benzyl azide to two highly functionalized alkynes. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2014). Design and synthesis of ketomethylene-based inhibitors of human neutrophil Proteinase 3. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2014). Design and synthesis of substrates and inhibitors for Proteinase 3. (external link)
• Parveen Gartan; Fahimeh Khorsand; Pushpak Mizar et al. (2024). Investigating polypharmacology through targeting known human neutrophil elastase inhibitors to proteinase 3. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; John Sigurd Svendsen (2000). Increased Antibacterial activity of 15-residues Bovine Lactoferricin Derivatives employing non-coded Aromatic Amino Acids,. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2020). Synthesis and Biological Activity of the Breitfussins. (external link)
• Guillaume Petit; Kine Østnes Hansen; Jeanette Hammer Andersen et al. (2023). A fragment to bind them all: Characterising phorbazole fragments as pan-kinase inhibitor. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2016). BIOSNet - From marine natural products to commercial leads. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2025). Norwegian open infrastructure for high-throughput experimentation and scale-up (NorHTE)- Plans and opportunities. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; John Sigurd Svendsen (2001). Antibacterial Activity of 15-Residues Bovine Lactoferricin Derivatives Employing non-coded Aromatic Amino Acids, Peptides 2000. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2009). Synthesis of biologically active peptides and peptidomimetics. (external link)
• Nicolai Etwin Alsaker; Willy Nerdal; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2023). Phospholipid membrane interactions of model peptides and depth of insertion investigated via solid-state NMR. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2012). Hvordan lager man et legemiddel?. (external link)
• Stian Hersvik Hegdahl; Kristine Akervold; Usanee Kongjampee et al. (2022). Biogas Residues as Feedstock for Hydrothermal Conversion: Bio-Oil Yield Optimisation and Fate of Drugs. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2006). Synthesis of a Gln-Phe hydroxyethylene dipeptide isostere. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2016). Discovery of LTX-315 - A potential first-in-class oncolytic peptide. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2012). Novel Renin Inhibitors. (external link)

Conference poster

• Rianne Harmsen; Annfrid Sivertsen; Davide Michetti et al. (2012). Synthesis and docking of 4-triazolyl substituted piperidine derivatives as novel renin inhibitors. (external link)
• Rianne Harmsen; Leiv Kristen Sydnes; Karl Wilhelm Törnroos et al. (2011). Synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted piperidines. (external link)
• Yngve Guttormsen; Sunil Kumar Pandey; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2017). Halogenation of electron rich heterocycles: Where does it go?. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2006). Novel Antibacterial Tripeptides. (external link)
• Rianne Harmsen; Leiv Kristen Sydnes; Bengt Erik Haug (2011). Synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted piperidines. (external link)
• Markus Baumann; Jon Våbenø; Bengt Erik Haug (2015). Synthetic studies towards peptidomimetic CXCR4 antagonists. (external link)
• Nina Henne; Jon Våbenø; Bengt Erik Haug (2014). Synthetic studies towards CXCR4 antagonists. (external link)
• Markus Baumann; Line Merethe Myklebust; Håvard Foyn et al. (2020). Inhibition of the Actin N-terminal acetyltransferase NAA80. (external link)
• Magnus John E. Fairhurst; Annette Bayer; Bengt Erik Haug (2016). Synthesis of Analogues of the Bioactive Compound Barettin. (external link)
• Signe Lilia Steinkopf; Linda Hanekam; Marit Schaathun et al. (2012). Local Anestethic Articaine Enantiomers interaction with Brain Lipids.. (external link)
• Parveen Gartan; Fahimeh Khorsand; Pushpak Mizar et al. (2022). Potential dual-inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3: drug targets for COPD. (external link)
• Lisa Haarer; Ruth Brenk; Bengt Erik Haug (2025). Development of new potential ligands targeting P. aeruginosa FabF using a fragment-based approach. (external link)
• Rasmus Moen Ree; Line Merethe Myklebust; Håvard Foyn et al. (2018). naa10 knockdown and NatA inhibition point to role for the NatA complex in zebrafish dorsoventral axis formation. (external link)
• Markus Baumann; Jon Våbenø; Bengt Erik Haug (2014). Synthetic studies towards CXCR4 antagonists. (external link)
• Adnan Budnjo; Bengt Erik Haug (2012). Synthesis of a Ketomethylene Dipeptide Isostere. (external link)
• Illimar Rekand; Muhammad Zeeshan; Pushpak Mizar et al. (2022). Structure-based hit discovery for riboswitch ligands. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; Markus Baumann; Karlshøj Stefanie et al. (2016). Scaffold-based tripeptidomimetic CXCR4 antagonists. (external link)
• Elvira Garcia de Jalón; Kjetil Børve Lund; Endre Stigen et al. (2015). Synthetic studies towards nitroreductase-activated fluorescent probes. (external link)
• Carlos Fabio Magalhaes da Silva; Jan-Åke Husmann; Vipul Navinchandra Panchal et al. (2025). Enlarging the Scaffold Space for the development of novel potential FMN riboswitch ligands. (external link)
• Carlos Fabio Magalhaes da Silva; Muhammad Zeeshan; Jan-Åke Husmann et al. (2025). From a lead to a fragment hit: Dissecting ribocil, a drug-like RNA ligand. (external link)
• Tahir Farooq; Bengt Erik Haug; Leiv K. Sydnes (2009). Cycloaddition with highly functionalized terminal alkynes. (external link)
• Signe Steinkopf; Linda Hanekam; Marit Schaathun et al. (2012). Local Anesthetic Articaine Enantiomers interaction with Brain Lipids. (external link)
• Magnus John E. Fairhurst; Muhammad Zeeshan; Annette Bayer et al. (2017). Synthesis of the natural product (3Z,6Z)-3-((1H-imidazol-5-yl)methylene)-6-(2-methylpropylidene)-piperazine-2,5-dione. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; John Sigurd Svendsen (2001). Preparation of (2S)-3-amino-(2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-chroman-6-sulfonyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)-propionic acid and its incorporation into antibacterial lactoferricin peptides. (external link)
• Carlos Fabio Magalhaes da Silva; Jan-Åke Husmann; Vipul Navinchandra Panchal et al. (2025). Enlarging the Scaffold Space for the development of novel potential FMN riboswitch ligands. (external link)
• Ruth Brenk; Bengt Erik Haug; Charis Georgiou (2022). A P. AERUGINOSA FATTY ACID SYNTHESIS PROTEIN CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC FRAGMENT SCREEN AND ATTEMPTED OPTIMIZATION OF A HIT. (external link)
• Markus Baumann; Line Merethe Myklebust; Marianne Goris et al. (2018). Inhibition of the Actin N-terminal acetyltransferase NAA80. (external link)
• Sunil Kumar Pandey; Yngve Guttormsen; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2016). Total Synthesis of Breitfussin A and B. (external link)
• Markus Baumann; Jon Våbenø; Bengt Erik Haug (2015). Synthetic studies towards CXCR4 antagonists. (external link)
• Illimar Hugo Rekand; Bengt Erik Haug (2016). Synthesis of a Challenging Amide. (external link)
• Adnan Budnjo; Shailesh Narawane; Nathalie Reuter et al. (2014). Synthesis and biological evaluation of pseudopeptide inhibitors of Proteinase 3. (external link)

Working paper

• Hans-Rene Bjørsvik; Leiv Kristen Sydnes; Bengt Erik Haug (2010). IUPAC ICOS-18 Proceedings. (external link)

Academic article

• Line Merethe Myklebust; Markus Baumann; Svein Isungset Støve et al. (2023). Optimized bisubstrate inhibitors for the actin N-terminal acetyltransferase NAA80. (external link)
• Svein Isungset Støve; Robert S. Magin; Håvard Foyn et al. (2016). Crystal structure of the Golgi-associated human N-alpha acetyltransferase 60 (Naa60/NatF) reveals the molecular determinants for substrate-specific acetylation.. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; Wenche Stensen; manar Kalaaji et al. (2008). Synthetic antimicrobial peptidomimetics with therapeutic potential. (external link)
• Baldur Sveinbjørnsson; Ketil Andre Camilio; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2017). LTX-315: a first-in-class oncolytic peptide that reprograms the tumor microenvironment. (external link)
• Rianne Harmsen; Leiv Kristen Sydnes; Karl Wilhelm Törnroos et al. (2011). Synthesis of trans-4-Triazolyl-Substituted 3-Hydroxypiperidines. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; Wenche Stensen; Trine Stiberg et al. (2004). Bulky nonproteinogenic amino acids permit the design of very small and effective cationic antibacterial peptides. (external link)
• Ludvik Olai Espeland; Charis Georgiou; Raphael Klein et al. (2021). An Experimental Toolbox for Structure-Based Hit Discovery for P. aeruginosa FabF, a Promising Target for Antibiotics. (external link)
• M. B. Strøm; Bengt Erik Haug; Merete L. Skar et al. (2003). The Pharmacophore of Short Cationic Antibacterial Peptides. (external link)
• Tahir Farooq; Bengt Erik Haug; Leiv Kristen Sydnes et al. (2012). 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of benzyl azide to two highly functionalized alkynes. (external link)
• Elvira García de Jalón; Katrin Kleinmanns; Vibeke Samuelsen Fosse et al. (2021). Comparison of Five Near-Infrared Fluorescent Folate Conjugates in an Ovarian Cancer Model. (external link)
• Fahimeh Khorsand; Bengt Erik Haug; Inari Talvikki Kursula et al. (2024). Expression and purification of human neutrophil proteinase 3 from insect cells and characterization of ligand binding. (external link)
• Åge Aleksander Skjevik; Bengt Erik Haug; Henning Lygre et al. (2011). Intramolecular hydrogen bonding in articaine can be related to superior bone tissue penetration: A molecular dynamics study. (external link)
• Adnan Budnjo; Shailesh Narawane; Cédric Grauffel et al. (2014). Reversible ketomethylene-based inhibitors of human neutrophil proteinase 3. (external link)
• Nicolai Etwin Alsaker; Øyvind Halskau; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2024). Phospholipid Membrane Interactions of Model Ac-WL-X-LL-OH Peptides Investigated by Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. (external link)
• liv tone Eliassen; Bengt Erik Haug; Gerd Berge et al. (2003). Enhanced antitumor activity of 15-residue bovine lactoferricin derivatives containing bulky aromatic amino acids and lipophilic N-terminal modifications. (external link)
• Shailesh Narawane; Adnan Budnjo; Cédric Grauffel et al. (2014). In silico design, synthesis, and assays of specific substrates for proteinase 3: Influence of fluorogenic and charged groups. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; Ketil Andre Camilio; liv tone Eliassen et al. (2016). Discovery of a 9-mer cationic peptide (LTX-315) as a potential first in class oncolytic peptide. (external link)
• M. B. Strøm; Bengt Erik Haug; Øystein Rekdal et al. (2001). Important structural features of 15-residue lactoferricin derivatives and methods for improvement of antimicrobial activity. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; Merete L. Skar; John Sigurd Svendsen (2001). The effects of charge and lipophilicity on the antibacterial activity of undecapeptides derived from bovine lactoferricin. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; Jill Mari Andersen; Øystein Rekdal et al. (2002). Synthesis of a 2-arylsulphonylated tryptophan: the antibacterial activity of bovine lactoferricin peptides containing Trp(2-Pmc). (external link)
• Tore Lejon; John Sigurd Svendsen; Bengt Erik Haug (2002). Simple parameterization of non-proteinogenic amino acids for QSAR of antibacterial peptides. (external link)
• Sunil Kumar Pandey; Yngve Guttormsen; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2015). A concise total synthesis of breitfussin A and B. (external link)
• Elvira García de Jalón; Gorka Ruiz de Garibay; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2021). CytoCy5S™, a compound of many structures. in vitro and in vivo evaluation of four near-infrared fluorescent substrates of nitroreductase (NTR). (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; M Brewer; DH Rich (2005). Facile degradative lactonization of Gln-Arg and Gln-Phe hydroxyethylene dipeptide derivatives. (external link)
• Markus Baumann; Mohammad Musarraf Hussain; Nina Henne et al. (2017). Influence of chain length on the activity of tripeptidomimetic antagonists for CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). (external link)
• Ida Amalie Nystad Reierth; Yngve Guttormsen; Jeanette Hammer Andersen et al. (2025). Investigation of the histone deacetylase inhibitor potential of phorbazole analogues. (external link)
• Liwei Liu; Adnan Budnjo; Jouni Jokela et al. (2015). Pseudoaeruginosins, nonribosomal peptides in nodularia spumigena. (external link)
• Johan Karl Svenson; Wenche Stensen; Bjørn Olav Brandsdal et al. (2008). Antimicrobial Peptides with Stability toward Tryptic Degradation. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; Wenche Stensen; John Sigurd Svendsen (2007). Application of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling to increase antimicrobial potency generates promising novel antibacterials. (external link)
• Janne M. Nestvold; Mengyu Wang; Ketil Andre Camilio et al. (2017). Oncolytic peptide LTX-315 induces an immune-mediated abscopal effect in a rat sarcoma model. (external link)
• Yngve Guttormsen; Magnus John Espeland Fairhurst; Sunil Kumar Pandey et al. (2020). Total synthesis of phorbazole B. (external link)
• Tahir Farooq; Leiv Kristen Sydnes; Karl Wilhelm Törnroos et al. (2012). Debenzylation of Functionalized 4-and 5-substituted 1,2,3-fTriazoles. (external link)
• Markus Baumann; Lina Marie Nome; Zack Georg Zachariassen et al. (2017). Synthesis of a novel tripeptidomimetic scaffold and biological evaluation for CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) antagonism. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; Merete L. Skar; John Sigurd Svendsen (2001). Bulky Aromatic Amino Acids Increase the Antibacterial Activity of Bovine Lactoferricin Peptides. (external link)
• Zack Georg Zachariassen; Stefanie Thiele; Erik Berg et al. (2014). Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of scaffold-based tripeptidomimetic antagonists for CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). (external link)
• Parveen Gartan; Fahimeh Khorsand; Pushpak Mizar et al. (2024). Investigating Polypharmacology through Targeting Known Human Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitors to Proteinase 3. (external link)
• Rianne Harmsen; Annfrid Sivertsen; Davide Michetti et al. (2013). Synthesis and docking of novel piperidine renin inhibitors. (external link)
• Øystein Rekdal; Bengt Erik Haug; manar Kalaaji et al. (2012). The relative spatial positions of tryptophan and cationic residues in helical membrane-active peptides determines their cytotoxicity. (external link)
• Vipul Navinchandra Panchal; Jan-Åke Husmann; Kaja Günther et al. (2025). Discovery of RNA-binding fragments using biolayer interferometry. (external link)
• Zack Georg Zachariassen; Stefanie Karlshøj; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2015). Probing the molecular interactions between CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and an arginine-based tripeptidomimetic antagonist (KRH-1636). (external link)
• Signe Steinkopf; Linda Hanekam; Marit Schaathun et al. (2012). Interaction of local anaesthetic articaine enantiomers with brain lipids: A Langmuir monolayer study. (external link)
• Charis Georgiou; Ludvik Olai Espeland; Hemalatha Bukya et al. (2025). Towards new antibiotics: P. aeruginosa FabF ligands discovered by crystallographic fragment screening followed by hit expansion. (external link)
• Oscar Aubi Catevilla; Marte Innselset Flydal; Huaixin Zheng et al. (2015). Discovery of a Specific Inhibitor of Pyomelanin Synthesis in Legionella pneumophila. (external link)
• Kine Østnes Hansen; Jeanette hammer Andersen; Annette Bayer et al. (2019). Kinase chemodiversity from the Arctic: the breitfussins. (external link)
• Sebastian Berge-Seidl; Nis Valentin Nielsen; Armando A. Rodriguez Alfonso et al. (2022). Identification of a phage display-derived peptide interacting with the N-terminal region of factor VII activating protease (FSAP) enables characterization of zymogen activation. (external link)
• Gorka Ruiz de Garibay; Elvira García de Jalón; Endre Stigen et al. (2021). Repurposing 18F-FMISO as a PET tracer for translational imaging of nitroreductase-based gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy. (external link)
• Marianne Goris; Robert S. Magin; Håvard Foyn et al. (2018). Structural determinants and cellular environment define processed actin as the sole substrate of the N-terminal acetyltransferase NAA80. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; John Sigurd Svendsen (2001). The Role of Tryptophan in the Antibacterial Activity of a 15-Residue Bovine Lactoferricin Peptide. (external link)
• Ikenna E. Ndukwe; Yu-hong Lam; Sunil Kumar Pandey et al. (2020). Unequivocal structure confirmation of a breitfussin analog by anisotropic NMR measurements. (external link)
• Tore Sigvard Lejon; Bengt Erik Haug (2000). Fargestoffer i Sopp. (external link)
• Magnus John E. Fairhurst; Zeeshan Muhammad; Bengt Erik Haug et al. (2018). Aldol condensations on a 3-alkylidene-2,5-diketopiperazine - synthesis of two marine natural products. (external link)
• Emmet McCormack; Elisabeth Silden; Richard M. West et al. (2013). Nitroreductase, a near-infrared reporter platform for in vivo time-domain optical imaging of metastatic cancer. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug; Daniel H. Rich (2004). Synthesis of a Gln-Phe hydroxyethylene dipeptide isostere. (external link)

Lecture

• Bengt Erik Haug (2012). The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2024). Design and synthesis of novel ligandsfor protein and RNA targets for new antibiotics. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2013). Hvordan lager man legemiddelmolekyler?. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2016). Peptider, peptidomimetika og legemiddelutvikling. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2024). Legemiddelutvikling og antibiotika. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2007). Antimikrobielle peptider - En kilde til utvikling av fremtidenslegemidler mot mikrober og kreft?. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2025). How to build up an interdiciplinary research environment and large infrastructures over time?. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2012). Hvordan lager man et legemiddel?. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2014). Havet - vårt nye medisinskap?. (external link)
• Bengt Erik Haug (2012). Peptider og legemiddelutvikling. (external link)

Doctoral thesis (PhD)

• Markus Baumann; Bengt Erik Haug; Jon Våbenø (2016). Synthesis of Bicyclic CXCR4 Antagonists. (external link)
• Adnan Budnjo; Bengt Erik Haug (2014). Synthesis of serine protease inhibitors. (external link)
• Tahir Farooq; Bengt Erik Haug; Leiv Kristen Sydnes (2012). Synthesis of Some Nitrogen Heterocycles of Medicinal Relevance. (external link)
• Rianne Harmsen; Bengt Erik Haug; Leiv Kristen Sydnes (2012). Synthesis of novel renin inhibitors. (external link)

Conference abstract

• Zack Georg Zachariassen; S Thiele; MM Rosenkilde et al. (2011). SAR and Binding Mode for CXCR4 Antagonists Based on an Arg-Arg-Nal Tripeptide Motif. (external link)
• Rianne Harmsen; A Sivertsen; Davide Michetti et al. (2012). Synthesis and docking of 4-triazolyl substituted piperidine derivatives as novel renin inhibitors. (external link)

Academic literature review

• Bengt Erik Haug; Morten B. Strøm; John Sigurd Svendsen (2007). The medicinal chemistry of short lactoferricin-based antibacterial peptides. (external link)
• Jon Våbenø; Bengt Erik Haug; Mette M. Rosenkilde (2015). Progress toward rationally designed small-molecule peptide and peptidomimetic CXCR4 antagonists. (external link)

Media feature article

• Annette Bayer; Bengt Erik Haug; Bård Helge Hoff et al. (2024). Kjemi og beredskap. (external link)
• Annette Bayer; Bengt Erik Haug; Bård Helge Hoff et al. (2024). Kjemi og legemiddelberedskap. (external link)

Popular science article

• Tore Sigvard Lejon; Bengt Erik Haug (2001). FARGESTOFFER I SOPP. (external link)

Professional article

• Bengt Erik Haug; John Christian de Mello (2025). Ny nasjonal infrastruktur for robotisert kjemi. (external link)

Other presentation

• Bengt Erik Haug (2025). Morgendagens kjemilaboratorium. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.