School of Medicine
Showing 21-40 of 96 Results
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Steven M. Corsello
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Oncology) and, by courtesy, of Chemical and Systems Biology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur laboratory operates at the intersection of functional genomics and chemical biology, with the goal of advancing novel molecular mechanisms of cancer inhibition to clinical use. We aim to 1) leverage phenotypic screening and functional genomics to determine novel anti-cancer mechanisms of small molecules, 2) develop new targeted therapy approaches against solid tumors, and 3) build a comprehensive community resource for drug repurposing discovery.
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Markus Covert
Shriram Chair of the Department of Bioengineering, Professor of Bioengineering and, by courtesy, of Chemical and Systems Biology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur focus is on building computational models of complex biological processes, and using them to guide an experimental program. Such an approach leads to a relatively rapid identification and validation of previously unknown components and interactions. Biological systems of interest include metabolic, regulatory and signaling networks as well as cell-cell interactions. Current research involves the dynamic behavior of NF-kappaB, an important family of transcription factors.
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Stefania Demuro
Postdoctoral Scholar, Chemical and Systems Biology
BioStefania received her master’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) and later moved to Philadelphia to conduct organic chemistry research at the University of Pennsylvania. Returning to Italy, she completed her Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Bologna in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology, focusing on the development of first-in-class triple protein kinase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies (Prof. Andrea Cavalli).
As part of her doctoral training, Stefania spent time at UC San Diego in Prof. Carlo Ballatore’s group, where she developed novel microtubule stabilizers for the treatment of tauopathies.
Drawn to the interconnection between chemistry and biology, and after applying her medicinal chemistry expertise to research in diabetes and neuropathic pain at Stanford ChEM-H, she joined the Chen Lab to investigate the role of ALDH1B1 in tumorigenesis and HIPK4 as a target for male contraception. -
Justin Du Bois
Henry Dreyfus Professor of Chemistry and Professor, by courtesy, of Chemical and Systems Biology
BioThe Du Bois lab is heavily invested in exploring voltage-gated ion channel function and physiology and the underlying role of specific channels in human pathologies, particularly nociception, epilepsy, and neurodevelopmental disorders. With expertise in chemical synthesis, we have access to a collection of exceptional natural products—tetrodotoxin, saxitoxin, gonyautoxin, batrachotoxin, veratridine, antillatoxin, to name a few—that act as selective modulators of sodium ion channels (NaVs). In addition, we have developed novel molecules as inhibitors and agonists of specific voltage-gated chloride (ClCs) and calcium (CaVs) channel isoforms. As a lab, we are uniquely positioned to advance high-precision chemical tools to interrogate underlying biochemical mechanisms of electrogenesis. Our work in this arena is guided by a number of questions related to the basic functioning of voltage-gated channels in neuronal cells and glia that include: 1) what is the rate at which channels are being made and degraded and is the rate of channel turnover context dependent (i.e., is protein turnover affected by increased neuronal activity, nerve cell damage, etc.); 2) to what extent is channel expression and cellular distribution affected by external factors (pH, inflammatory modulators, injury); 3) how do post-translational protein modifications influence channel function and how are such modifications altered in response to external factors; 4) how do neighboring glia influence channel expression and ion gating. Answers to these types of questions will provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which neuronal cells and tissue respond to external stimuli, stress, and injury. We benefit from the strong interest of others in our work and multiple collaborators at Stanford and at other institutions.
Ion channel function and physiology. We wish to understand the role of individual subtypes of voltage-gated sodium, chloride, and calcium channels in neuronal signaling and how structural changes (i.e., point mutations, post-translational modifications, partner proteins) alter channel function. Our interests include the design, development, and application of chemogenetic technologies for targeting individual channel subtypes and allosteric modulators of select channel isoforms. Our work aims to inform efforts in translational research, as voltage-gated ion channel dysregulation and malfunction underlie a wide range of human diseases and disorders.
Natural products synthesis. We are interested in developing efficient and flexible synthetic routes to natural products that serve as ‘lead’ compounds for advancing high precision pharmacological tools. Most of the targets we are interested in obtaining are not available in sufficient quantities from natural sources, thus necessitating de novo preparation. To streamline the assembly process of these complex molecules, we are challenged to develop, in parallel, new tactics and chemical methods that facilitate C–C, C–N, and C–O bond formation.
Toxin ‘sponge’ proteins. A longstanding collaboration with the Minor lab at UCSF has focused on understanding how certain organisms that ingest dietary toxins such as saxitoxin, tetrodotoxin, and batrachotoxin survive their poisonous effects. This work has resulted in the elucidation of the structures of novel paralytic shellfish-binding proteins (so-called saxiphilins) and the toxin ‘binding code’. Studies are ongoing to integrate saxiphilins into a diagnostic device for measuring toxin concentrations in shellfish and to advance an engineered toxin-binding protein as a countermeasure for paralytic shellfish poisoning. -
James Ferrell
Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology and of Biochemistry
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy lab has two main goals: to understand the regulation of mitosis and to understand the systems-level logic of simple signaling circuits. We often make use of Xenopus laevis oocytes, eggs, and cell-free extracts for both sorts of study. We also carry out single-cell fluorescence imaging studies on mammalian cell lines. Our experimental work is complemented by computational and theoretical studies aimed at understanding the design principles and recurring themes of regulatory circuits.
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Nathanael S. Gray
Krishnan-Shah Family Professor
BioNathanael Gray is the Krishnan-Shah Family Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology at Stanford, Co-Director of Cancer Drug Discovery Co-Leader of the Cancer Therapeutics Research Program, Member of Chem-H, and Program Leader for Small Molecule Drug Discovery for the Innovative Medicines Accelerator (IMA). His research utilizes the tools of synthetic chemistry, protein biochemistry, and cancer biology to discover and validate new strategies for the inhibition of anti-cancer targets. Dr. Gray’s research has had broad impact in the areas of kinase inhibitor design and in circumventing drug resistance.
Dr. Gray received his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in 1999 after receiving his BS degree with the highest honor award from the same institution in 1995. After completing his PhD, Dr. Gray was recruited to the newly established Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) in San Diego, California. During his six year stay at GNF, Dr. Gray became the director of biological chemistry where he supervised a group of over fifty researchers integrating chemical, biological and pharmacological approaches towards the development of new experimental drugs. Some of the notable accomplishments of Dr. Gray’s team at GNF include: discovery of the first allosteric inhibitors of wild-type and mutant forms of BCR-ABL which resulted in clinical development of ABL001; discovery of the first selective inhibitors of the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK), an achievement that led to the development of now FDA-approved drugs such as ceritinib (LDK378) for the treatment of EML4-ALK expressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); and discovery that sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1P1) is the pharmacologically relevant target of the immunosuppressant drug Fingomilod (FTY720) followed by the development of Siponimod (BAF312), which is currently used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
In 2006, Dr. Gray returned to academia as a faculty member at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in Boston. There, he has established a discovery chemistry group that focuses on developing first-in-class inhibitors for newly emerging biological targets, including resistant alleles of existing targets, as well as inhibitors of well-validated targets, such as Her3 and RAS, that have previously been considered recalcitrant to small molecule drug development. Dr. Gray’s team developed covalent inhibitors of the T790M mutant of EGFR inspired the development of Osimertinib (AZD9291), now FDA approved for treatment of patients with relapsed lung cancer due to resistance to first generation EGFR inhibitors. Dr. Gray has also developed structure-based, generalized approaches for designing drugs to overcome one of the most common mechanisms of resistance observed against most kinase inhibitor drugs, mutation of the so-called "gatekeeper" residue, which has been observed in resistance to drugs targeting BCR-ABL, c-KIT and PDGFR.
In 2021, Dr. Gray joined Stanford University where he has joined the Stanford Cancer Institute, Chem-H and the Innovative Medicines Accelerator (IMA) to spur the development of prototype drugs.
These contributions have been recognized through numerous awards including the National Science Foundation’s Career award in 2007, the Damon Runyon Foundation Innovator award in 2008, the American Association for Cancer Research for Team Science in 2010 and for Outstanding Achievement in 2011 and the American Chemical Society award for Biological Chemistry in 2011, and the Nancy Lurie Marks endowed professorship in 2015 and the Paul Marks Prize in 2019, and the Hope Funds for Cancer Research in 2023. -
Wouter Huiting
Postdoctoral Scholar, Chemical and Systems Biology
BioWouter received his training at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Here he obtained a B.Sc.and M.Sc. in Human Movement Sciences (2008-2015), followed by a M.Sc. in Clinical and Molecular Neurosciences (2014-2016). He performed his doctoral research at the University of Groningen, obtaining his PhD degree in Molecular Cell Biology in 2021. Wouter continued his research in 2022 with a position as postdoctoral scholar at the Jarosz lab, at the department of Chemical and Systems Biology. Here he pursues his interest in the molecular forces underlying proteomic adaptation of cells and systems in development and disease. Outside of Stanford, Wouter is an avid sportsman, and likes cooking, hiking, birding, and in general loves to enjoy nature and wildlife with his wife and son.
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Daniel Jarosz
Senior Associate Dean, Basic Science, Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology and of Developmental Biology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy laboratory studies conformational switches in evolution, disease, and development. We focus on how molecular chaperones, proteins that help other biomolecules to fold, affect the phenotypic output of genetic variation. To do so we combine classical biochemistry and genetics with systems-level approaches. Ultimately we seek to understand how homeostatic mechanisms influence the acquisition of biological novelty and identify means of manipulating them for therapeutic and biosynthetic benefit.
