Sriram Subramaniam is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and holds the Gobind Khorana Canada Excellence Research Chair in Precision Cancer Drug Design. His research leverages cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to advance structural biology and drug design, focusing on protein dynamics and therapeutic target identification. Education: PhD in Physical Chemistry (1987) from Stanford University; MSc in Chemistry (1981) from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Subramaniam's interdisciplinary work combines cryo-EM with computational tools and molecular biology to study protein structures at atomic resolution. His lab has pioneered cryo-EM applications in precision medicine, including mapping small molecule drugs on patient-specific cancer mutants. Recent publications (2024-2022) highlight his contributions to understanding SARS-CoV-2 immune evasion, structural mechanisms of ATPases, and AI integration in structural biology. His research spans viral entry mechanisms, CRISPR systems, and neurodegenerative disease pathways. Scientific Awards: Gobind Khorana Canada Excellence Research Chair NIH Director’s Award for Scientific Excellence Fellow of the Biophysical Society Breakthrough Prize nomination Based at the Djavad Mowafaghian Center for Brain Health, Subramaniam leads the Program in Cryo-EM Guided Drug Design, contributing to over 177 peer-reviewed publications with a career h-index of 58 and citations exceeding 12,340.
Dr. Shyh-Dar Li is a Professor and Tong Louie Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, where he also serves as Chair of Nanomedicine and Chemical Biology. With a BSc in pharmacy from National Taiwan University (1998) and PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from UNC Chapel Hill (2008), followed by postdoctoral training at UC San Diego's Moores Cancer Center (2009), Dr. Li has established himself as a leading researcher in advanced drug delivery systems. His research focuses on developing innovative nanomedicine platforms for targeted delivery of biological therapeutics including peptides, proteins, antibodies, and nucleic acids. Dr. Li's laboratory has pioneered several novel drug delivery approaches, particularly in lipid-based nanoparticles, phospholipid-free vesicles, and polymer systems for cancer immunotherapy, pain management, and protein delivery. His work bridges fundamental nanotechnology with translational applications for difficult-to-treat diseases. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on tumor microenvironment modulation, endosomal escape mechanisms for nucleic acid delivery, and non-invasive delivery routes for protein therapeutics. His research demonstrates increasing sophistication in nanocarrier engineering, with recent work incorporating machine learning approaches to optimize nanoparticle design and expanding into immunomodulatory therapies that harness the body's immune system to fight cancer. Scientific Recognition: 2014 AFPC New Investigator Award 2013 AAPS New Investigator Award in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technologies 2013 CIHR New Investigator Award 2013 CSPS Early Career Award 2012 Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award Dr. Li's research program has been consistently supported by major Canadian funding agencies including CIHR, NSERC, and MITACS. He actively collaborates across disciplines and accepts graduate students into his research program, focusing on cutting-edge approaches to overcome biological barriers in drug delivery. His laboratory, the Laboratory of Targeted Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, serves as a hub for innovation in pharmaceutical nanotechnology.
Shasha Chong is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology and a Ronald and JoAnne Willens Scholar. She earned her B.S. from the University of Science & Technology of China (2008) and Ph.D. from Harvard University (2014). Her research bridges chemistry, physics, and biology to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cellular processes, focusing on intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in transcription proteins. Research Focus: IDRs in transcriptional regulation, cancer biology, liquid-liquid phase separation, and single-molecule imaging techniques. Grants & Awards: CCE Innovation Award (2024), ALSF Innovation Grant, Mallinckrodt Research Grant, Margaret E. Early Medical Research Trust Grant. Collaborations: Caltech-City of Hope Biomedical Research Initiative Grant (2025). Teaching: Co-instructor for courses like Biochemistry Laboratory (Ch 11) and Advanced Topics in Biochemistry (BMB/Bi/Ch 174). Labs & Teams: Leads the Chong Laboratory at Caltech, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches combining single-molecule imaging, genome editing, and bioinformatics.
Weiping Tang is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, holding the Janis Apinis Professorship in the School of Pharmacy and the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship. He also serves as Director of the Medicinal Chemistry Center at the School of Pharmacy and maintains a faculty appointment with the Department of Chemistry in the College of Letters and Science. Janis Apinis Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor Director of Medicinal Chemistry Center Faculty Appointment with Department of Chemistry Dr. Tang received his B.S. in Chemistry from Peking University in 1997, M.S. in Chemistry from New York University in 1999, Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Stanford University in 2005, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery at Harvard University in 2007. Dr. Tang's research program focuses on drug discovery for cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders through three interconnected areas: Organic Synthesis (advancing glycoscience through novel carbohydrate synthesis technologies), Medicinal Chemistry (developing small molecules that selectively remove disease-associated proteins), and Chemical Biology (dissecting biological pathways using novel small molecule probes). His group operates as an interdisciplinary team where chemists and biologists collaborate closely on drug discovery projects, with particular emphasis on developing novel degraders for disease-causing proteins. Analysis of Dr. Tang's publication record reveals a significant shift toward targeted protein degradation technologies, particularly PROTACs and molecular glues, while maintaining strong foundations in carbohydrate chemistry. His most impactful recent work includes developing degraders for extracellular and membrane proteins (previously considered 'undruggable'), creating rapid synthesis platforms like Rapid-TAC and Rapid-Glue, and advancing understanding of ternary complex formation for novel PROTAC design. His research spans both chemical methodology development and therapeutic applications across multiple disease areas. Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship Janis Apinis Professorship Numerous high-impact publications in leading chemistry and pharmacology journals Editor's pick and hot paper designations for significant contributions Dr. Tang mentors a diverse team of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff scientists with expertise spanning synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, carbohydrate chemistry, computational chemistry, biochemistry, and cell biology. His group has developed innovative platforms for the rapid synthesis of protein degraders and has made significant contributions to understanding the mechanisms of action for these novel therapeutics. Current research includes developing selective degraders for cancer targets like RIPK1, BRD4, and CARM1, as well as advancing delivery systems for clinical translation. The Tang Research Group maintains state-of-the-art facilities within the School of Pharmacy at UW-Madison, equipped for comprehensive chemical synthesis, compound characterization, and biological evaluation. The group actively collaborates with researchers across campus and with industry partners to advance discoveries toward clinical applications, with particular focus on cancer therapeutics and protein degradation technologies.
Vadim Cherezov, the Ester Dornsife Chair in Biological Sciences and Professor at the University of Southern California (USC), leads groundbreaking research in membrane protein structure and function. Affiliated with the Bridge Institute, Department of Chemistry, and Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, his work focuses on GPCRs, ion channels, and transporters—critical targets for drug discovery. His team leverages advanced techniques like Lipidic Cubic Phase (LCP) and Serial Femtosecond Crystallography (SFX) at XFEL facilities to solve high-resolution structures under physiological conditions. Institutional Affiliations: Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center, Department of Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Key Collaborations: Katritch Lab, Kuhn Lab, NIH, European XFEL. His research explores the role of lipids in modulating GPCR function, addressing diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer. By solving the structure of the A 2A adenosine receptor via sulfur SAD phasing at XFEL, Cherezov’s lab demonstrated de novo phasing without heavy atoms. This breakthrough enables structural studies of previously intractable membrane proteins. Scientific Awards & Grants: NIH R01 GM108635, U54 GM094618, U54 GM094599, R01 GM095583 Science Signaling Breakthroughs of the Year (2014) Cherezov mentors a dynamic team, including postdocs (e.g., Dong-Gyun Kim), graduate students (e.g., Behnaz Davoudinasab), and alumni (e.g., Benjamin Stauch at Eli Lilly, Nairie Michaelian at Genentech). His lab’s publications span Nature , Science , and Cell , with recent work on Science Advances (2025) addressing ABEL-FRET for GPCR dynamics.
Dr. Steven G. Clarke is a Distinguished Professor at UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and director of research at the Molecular Biology Institute . His work bridges protein chemistry , methylation biology , and aging research through studies of spontaneous protein damage and its repair mechanisms. Education: BA in Chemistry and Zoology, Pomona College (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harvard University (NSF Fellow) Postdoctoral Fellowship at UC Berkeley (Miller Fellow) Dr. Clarke's research focuses on protein isoaspartyl repair via PCMT1/PIMT enzymes , ribosomal protein methylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae , and PRMT family characterization including PRMT7 and PRMT9. His lab combines biochemical assays , genetic models , and structural analysis to investigate aging mechanisms and disease implications. Recent publications highlight: COQ5 structure-function analysis in coenzyme Q biosynthesis PCMTD1 ubiquitin ligase interactions PRMT7 substrate specificity in histone H2B Protein isoaspartyl impacts on T cell function in lupus Novel PRMT inhibitors for cancer therapy Methionine addiction in osteosarcoma malignancy Major scientific awards: American Chemical Society Ralph F. Hirschmann Award in Peptide Chemistry NIH MERIT Award Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar Award William C. Rose Award, ASBMB UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award (Eby Award winner) Current lab members include PhD candidates Eric Pang (UCSB) and Sining "Cindy" Wang (UCLA), while undergraduates Celeste Medina-Seymoure , Elizabeth Oroudjeva , Olivia Pacheco , and Jasmine Winter contribute to ongoing proteostasis studies. Collaborations with Profs. Jose Rodriguez and Catherine Clarke demonstrate interdisciplinary research approaches.
Prof. Dr. Mathias Christmann is a faculty member at the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin , leading the research group in Organic Chemistry . His work focuses on strategic and methodological challenges in synthetic chemistry, particularly in total synthesis, organocatalysis, and renewable resource transformations. Position: Professor Contact: mathias.christmann@fu-berlin.de Location: Takustr. 3, Room 24.16, 14195 Berlin Research Interests include: Natural product-inspired small molecule synthesis for biological pathway modulation Minimizing C-C bond formations through selective functionalization of terpene building blocks Organocatalytic and metal-catalyzed reactions in multistep sequences Flow chemistry applications for scalable and sustainable synthesis Biological evaluation of TRPC channel agonists/antagonists for cancer therapy Publication Trends highlight expertise in total synthesis of complex terpenoids, organocatalysis for stereocontrolled reactions, flow chemistry for late-stage transformations, and TRPC4/5 channel modulation in renal cancer studies. His group pioneers asymmetric desymmetrization , photo-oxidation protocols , and electrosynthesis methods with minimal reagent waste. Advisees include PhD candidates Jan-Hendrik Dickoff , Mayar Elbendary , Nadine Kreidt , Tobias Olbrisch , Kamar Shakeri , and Zhen Wang , focusing on terpene-based drug discovery and catalytic reaction design.
Ron Dror is the Cheriton Family Professor of Computer Science at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab , with courtesy appointments in Structural Biology and Molecular & Cellular Physiology . He also holds affiliations with Bio-X, the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), the Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering (ICME), Sarafan ChEM-H, and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT MPhil in Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge (Churchill Scholar) BS in Mathematics and Electrical & Computer Engineering, Rice University (summa cum laude) Ron leads a multidisciplinary research group that combines molecular simulation and machine learning to study biomolecular structure, dynamics, and function. His work focuses on developing computational methods to accelerate drug discovery by predicting molecular interactions and designing more effective therapeutics. Current projects include the PENSA software library for analyzing biomolecular ensembles and FRAME framework for structure-based ligand design. His research has produced groundbreaking work on G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) , RNA structure prediction , and mitochondrial transport mechanisms . Key publications highlight applications of geometric deep learning and molecular dynamics simulations in structural biology. Scientific Awards: Cheriton Family Professorship (2023) Two Gordon Bell Prizes (2014, 2009) Best Paper Awards at NeurIPS (2021), IPDPS (2013), SC11 (2011), SC09 (2009), SC06 (2006) Science Magazine Top 10 Breakthrough (2010) Fulbright Scholarship , NSF Fellowship , DoD Fellowship , Whitaker Foundation Fellowship Ron has advised numerous doctoral and master’s students including EJ Fine , Masha Karelina , and Briana Sobecks . His lab collaborates with experimentalists across academia and industry, applying computational methods to diverse biomedical problems such as RNA structure prediction , GPCR signaling , and mitochondrial metabolism .
Pim de Vink is a doctoral researcher at Eindhoven University of Technology , affiliated with the Biomedical Engineering department and Chemical Biology group. Supervised by dr. L.-G. Milroy and prof. L. Brunsveld , his work bridges supramolecular chemistry and chemical biology , focusing on host/guest chemistry for protein complex modulation. Education: B.Sc. in Chemistry (2014) from University of Amsterdam M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering (2016) from TU/e Internship at Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology (2016) on gold-catalyzed synthesis Research Themes: His research develops switchable cucurbituril-based systems for light-controlled enzyme activation and artificial signaling networks. Key areas include protein-protein interaction stabilization , thermodynamic modeling , and allosteric nuclear receptor modulation . Publication Trends: Across JACS , Chemical Science , and RSC Chemical Biology , his work from 2017–2023 emphasizes supramolecular tools for biochemical applications. Notable contributions include 100-fold affinity enhancement of 14-3-3 ligands and UV-responsive cucurbituril release mechanisms . Grants: Funded by Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) through Gravity program 024.001.035 and VICI grant 016.150.366.
Laura Solt, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology in Jupiter, Florida. She also serves as Associate Dean of the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences. Dr. Solt began her independent research career at Scripps Florida in 2013 and has established herself as a leading researcher in nuclear receptor biology within the immune system. Her research focuses on understanding the biologically relevant roles of nuclear receptors, particularly RORα and REV-ERBs, in the immune system with emphasis on TH17 cell development and autoimmune disease. Her lab employs a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular biology, genetic techniques, and chemical biology coupled with mouse models of autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. Dr. Solt's laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding how nuclear receptors regulate immune cell function, particularly in TH17-mediated inflammation. Her work has demonstrated roles for RORα and REV-ERBs in TH17 cell development and has developed synthetic ligands to these receptors for potential therapeutic applications in autoimmune diseases. Her extensive publication record shows a clear trajectory of research focused on nuclear receptor signaling in immunity, with recent work expanding into applications for cancer immunotherapy, neuroimmunology, and metabolic aspects of immune cell function. Her articles demonstrate expertise in both basic nuclear receptor mechanisms and translational applications. Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (2010-2013) Dr. Solt actively mentors graduate students including Adrianna Wilson (recipient of NIDDK F31 and Scheller Graduate Student Fellowship) and Sarah Mosure (recipient of NIH NRSA F31 award and Wendy Havran award). Her laboratory receives substantial funding from multiple NIH institutes (NIDDK, NCI, NIAID, NIGMS) as well as the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Current research directions include investigating the roles of NR2F6 in TH17 cells, exploring RORα function in CD8 T cells, and developing novel nuclear receptor modulators for therapeutic applications.
Thomas Lectka is the Jean and Norman Scowe Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University, where he has been a faculty member since 1994. His research focuses on synthetic and physical organic chemistry, particularly in the area of organofluorine chemistry. PhD, Cornell University Postdoctoral Fellow, Heidelberg (Alexander von Humboldt Fellow) Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University (NIH Fellow) Dr. Lectka's research is centered on developing novel synthetic methods, especially for fluorination, and understanding the physical organic principles underlying reactivity. His work spans radical fluorination , catalytic asymmetric synthesis , and the design of fluorinated bioactive molecules . Using a combination of experimental and computational techniques, his lab investigates C-F bond formation , reaction mechanisms , and the biological applications of fluorinated compounds. His recent work, as reflected in publications from 2010 to 2024, shows a consistent trajectory in advancing fluorination methodologies, with increasing emphasis on site-selectivity , enantiocontrol , and biomedical relevance . Themes include the development of new reagents, mechanistic studies, and the synthesis of fluorinated natural product analogs and peptidomimetics. Dr. Lectka has received numerous honors and awards, including: ACS Arthur C. Cope Scholar (2024) ACS Maryland Chemist of the Year (2017) John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award Sloan Fellowship NSF CAREER Award NIH First Award Eli Lilly Grantee Award He actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students in his research group, contributing to education and training in organic chemistry. His lab, The Lectka Group , is supported by grants from the NIH and NSF, enabling cutting-edge research in synthetic methodology and physical organic studies. The group fosters a collaborative environment focused on innovation in fluorine chemistry. The Lectka Group is an active research laboratory at Johns Hopkins University dedicated to pushing the boundaries of synthetic organic chemistry through the exploration of fluorine's unique properties. Current projects include site-selective radical fluorination and the synthesis of unusual fluorinated species, aiming to provide new tools for drug discovery and materials science.
Dr. Xi Chen is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Davis, where he has been a faculty member since 2003. His research spans carbohydrate chemistry, glycobiology, and cancer biology, with notable contributions to chemoenzymatic methods for glycoconjugate synthesis. Dr. Chen's work focuses on developing hybrid chemical-enzymatic approaches to synthesize complex carbohydrates and glycoconjugates, characterizing glycosyltransferase mechanisms, and designing enzyme mutants for improved catalysis. He also investigates carbohydrate-based diagnostics and therapeutics, particularly in cancer and inflammatory diseases. His recent publications highlight interdisciplinary studies linking carbohydrate metabolism to p53 tumor suppression pathways and RNA-binding protein regulation in cancer. Awards include AAAS Fellow (2015), ACS Isbell Award (2012), and NSF CAREER Award (2006). He earned his Ph.D. at Wayne State University (2000) and B.S. at Xiamen University (1994). Scientific Awards American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2015) Dean's Team Award for Excellence (2013) Carbohydrate Research Award for Creativity (2013) ACS CARB Horace S. Isbell Award (2012)
Henry Liang, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), with adjunct appointments in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Texas Tech University. His lab focuses on bridging biology with synthetic systems through membrane biophysics and bioengineering. Research Interests: Dr. Liang's work spans membrane protein reconstitution, nanodisc technology, antimicrobial nanoparticles, blood-brain barrier targeting, and immunotherapy platforms. Key areas include: Design of synthetic proteomembranes for protein function studies Development of environmentally responsive nanoantibiotics Nanoparticle-based theranostic systems for cancer Light-driven energy transduction in biohybrid materials Publication Trends: His 15 most recent articles (2011-2023) demonstrate consistent focus on nanotechnology solutions for biomedical challenges, with evolving emphasis on antimicrobial nanostructures (35%), membrane protein platforms (30%), cancer nanomedicine (20%), and sustainable nanomaterials (15%). Methodological strengths include polymer synthesis, X-ray scattering, and biomimetic system design. Training: The Liang Lab actively recruits graduate students and postdoctoral researchers for projects in membrane biophysics and bioengineering. Current research infrastructure includes capabilities for synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering, molecular dynamics simulations, and nanomaterial characterization.
Dr. Sander J. Wezenberg is an Associate Professor at the Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, where he leads an independent research group focused on developing stimuli-responsive molecular receptors and self-assembling materials. He was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen in 2017 and moved to Leiden University in 2019 to establish his research group, where he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022. Dr. Wezenberg's educational background includes: Master's degree in Chemistry at the University of Nijmegen, conducting research in Prof. Roeland Nolte's group PhD in Supramolecular Chemistry at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) under Prof. Arjan Kleij (2011) Postdoctoral fellow with Prof. François Diederich at ETH Zurich Postdoctoral work with Prof. Ben Feringa at the University of Groningen His research focuses on using interdisciplinary approaches combining synthetic organic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and photochemistry to develop systems that can study and manipulate biological processes. Key research areas include: Photodynamic control of anion binding and lipid bilayer membrane transport Creation of polymeric and self-assembled materials with switchable functions Development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents to improve human health Dr. Wezenberg's recent publications demonstrate strong trends in photoresponsive molecular systems for controlling anion transport and membrane properties. His work bridges chemistry, materials science, and biological applications, with particular emphasis on light-switchable molecular receptors and their applications in biological systems. Scientific awards and recognition: ERC Starting Grant (2018) Veni Grant from NWO (2014) Vidi Grant from NWO (2018) Member of the Young Academy of Europe (2020) Dr. Wezenberg actively mentors PhD and Master's students, with current advisees including Nol Duindam, Sabine Langens, Sofiia Emashova, Lin Xu, Dimitris Piperoudis, and Josien de Graaf. His research is supported by multiple funding sources including Leiden University, the European Research Council, the Dutch Research Council, and the China Scholarship Council. The Wezenberg Research Group is based at the Gorlaeus Laboratories in the new Gorlaeus Building at Leiden University, where they maintain a highly collaborative research environment focused on molecular switches, anion recognition, and dynamic supramolecular systems.
Xenophon Papademetris is a Professor of Biomedical Informatics & Data Science and Radiology & Biomedical Imaging at Yale School of Medicine. He serves as Associate Director of Biomedical Imaging Data Sciences at Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute and directs the Medical Software and Medical Artificial Intelligence Certificate Program. PhD in Electrical and Information Sciences from Yale University (2000) BA from Cambridge University (1994) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Yale University (2002) His research focuses on medical image analysis, machine learning, and biomedical software development. He has developed tools like BioImage Suite Web and contributed to standards committees at the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). His work spans modalities including MRI, CT, PET, and optical imaging. Recent publications emphasize neuroimaging analysis, explainable AI in healthcare, and multimodal data integration across species. He leads NIH-funded research under the BRAIN Initiative (R24 MH114805) and has authored a textbook on Medical Software published by Cambridge University Press. IEEE Senior Member Yale Brown-Coxe Postdoctoral Fellowship Harding Bliss Prize for Excellence in Engineering He directs the BioImage Suite Project, creating web-based image analysis tools using JavaScript and WebAssembly. His teaching includes both academic courses and a Coursera program on Medical Software with over 14,000 enrollments.
