Sarafan ChEM-H
Showing 1-10 of 11 Results
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Jan Carette
Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur research focuses on the identification of host genes that play critical roles in the pathogenesis of infectious agents including viruses. We use CRISPR genetic screens in human cells as an efficient approach to perform loss-of-function studies. Besides obtaining fundamental insights on how viruses hijack cellular processes and on host defense mechanisms, it may also facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies.
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Lynette Cegelski
Monroe E. Spaght Professor of Chemistry and Professor, by courtesy, of Chemical Engineering
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur laboratory uncovers the chemical principles that organize living systems. Across biology - from microbial communities to human disease - chemical and macromolecular composition, molecular interactions, and chemical modifications govern the assembly, function, and persistence of complex biological systems, yet many of these principles remain hidden from conventional approaches. We develop innovative chemical, structural, and biological strategies to preserve and interrogate intact biological systems, revealing chemistry that cannot be observed by studying isolated components alone. Our work has uncovered previously unknown molecular structures, chemical modifications, and mechanisms of biological organization, including the discovery of phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) cellulose, a chemically modified form of cellulose that fundamentally changed our understanding of bacterial extracellular matrices.
In parallel, we discover and engineer molecules that probe, disrupt, and control biological systems. A major focus is the development of new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance and persistent bacterial communities. Our laboratory has introduced first-in-class vancomycin conjugates with multiple modes of action, unusually broad-spectrum activity, and the ability to sterilize biofilms - properties not observed together in other vancomycin conjugates. We also develop anti-biofilm agents, molecular probes, imaging agents, and other chemical tools that both reveal new biology and provide starting points for addressing pressing challenges in human health and disease.
Together, our research spans fundamental chemical discovery and molecular invention: uncovering the chemistry that enables biological systems to assemble and persist, and using those insights to create new ways to interrogate and control them. This work opens opportunities to combat infectious disease, improve human health, preserve marine ecosystems, advance sustainable materials, and deepen our understanding of how chemistry organizes life. -
Ovijit Chaudhuri
Professor of Mechanical Engineering and, by courtesy, of Bioengineering
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe study the physics of cell migration, division, and morphogenesis in 3D, as well cell-matrix mechanotransduction, or the process by which cells sense and respond to mechanical properties of the extracellular matrices. For both these areas, we use engineered biomaterials for 3D culture as artificial extracellular matrices.
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James K. Chen
Jauch Professor and Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology, of Developmental Biology and of Chemistry
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur laboratory combines chemistry and developmental biology to investigate the molecular events that regulate embryonic patterning, tumorigenesis, and sperm development. We are currently using genetic and small-molecule approaches to study the molecular mechanisms that sustain stem-like cancer cells or promote spermiogenesis. We are also developing new technologies for optically controlling developmental signaling proteins.
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Danny Hung-Chieh Chou
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Endocrinology) and, by courtesy, of Chemical and Systems Biology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur research program integrates concepts of chemical biology, protein engineering and structure biology to design new therapeutic leads and generate probes to study biological processes. A key focus of our lab is insulin, an essential hormone in our body to reduce blood glucose levels. We generate synthetic libraries of insulin analogs to select for chemical probes, and investigate natural insulin molecules (e.g. from the venom of fish-hunting cone snails!) to develop novel therapeutic candidates. We are especially interested in using chemical and enzymatic synthesis to create novel chemical entities with enhanced properties, and leverage the strong expertise of our collaborators to apply our skill sets in the fields of cancer biology, immunology and pain research. Our ultimate goal is to translate our discovery into therapeutic interventions in human diseases.
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Jennifer R. Cochran
Vice President for SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and for Strategic Initiatives, Addie and Al Macovski Professor, Professor of Bioengineering and, by courtesy, of Chemical Engineering
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMolecular Engineering, Protein Therapeutics, Cancer Therapeutics, Protein Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Cell Engineering, Molecular Imaging, Drug Delivery, Chemical Biology
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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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David Cox
Assistant Professor of Genetics and, by courtesy, of Medicine (Hematology)
BioDavid Cox is an Assistant Professor of Genetics and by courtesy of Medicine (Hematology) at Stanford University and Principal Investigator of the Cox Lab (coxlab.bio), which is opening in July 2025. He is also a ChEM-H Institute Scholar and Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator.
He completed his undergraduate studies in biology at Stanford University, where he worked with Irving Weissman on understanding how the innate immune system recognizes cancer cells. He then entered the Harvard-MIT MD-PhD program, earning his MD from the Harvard-MIT program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST) and his PhD in biology from MIT. His doctoral dissertation with Feng Zhang focused on the discovery and development of CRISPR-Cas enzymes as novel DNA and RNA editing tools. During his final year of medical school, he worked as a visiting scientist with David Baker, where he initiated efforts to design sequence-specific DNA binding proteins de novo.
Following medical school, Cox completed internal medicine residency and a clinical fellowship in hematology at Stanford, where he concurrently conducted postdoctoral research in Rhiju Das's lab. In the Das lab, he fine-tuned large language models for RNA structure prediction and developed new methods for highly multiplexed detection of RNA-protein interactions.
His current list of publications and patents is available here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ZohHoFYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
