Christopher Parker

Christopher Parker is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI). His research focuses on developing chemistry-enabled strategies to investigate human biology and disease pathology, integrating organic synthesis with chemical proteomics and cell/molecular biology. The Parker Lab aims to understand protein function in disease contexts and create chemical tools for therapeutic development.

Education: PhD in Chemistry from Yale University (2013), B.S. in Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University (2007). Professional experience includes roles as a postdoctoral fellow and faculty member at TSRI, progressing to his current rank of Professor (2024-present).

Research interests span chemical proteomics, small molecule regulation of biological processes, and drug discovery. Notable achievements include developing SLC15A4 inhibitors for autoimmune diseases and elucidating the mechanism of portimine anti-cancer activity. Awards include the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Award (2023) and NIH R01 grants.

The lab collaborates widely, engaging in projects such as identifying degradable proteins and expanding ligandable proteome coverage. Advising includes mentoring over 20 students/postdocs, with many progressing to prominent positions in academia and industry. The lab maintains an active website with research details and recruitment opportunities.