Jon Clardy

Jon Clardy is the Christopher T. Walsh Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School, with affiliations at Harvard University and the Broad Institute. His laboratory is located in Room C-643 at 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA.

His research focuses on biologically active small molecules, particularly natural products from bacteria and fungi, with the overarching goal of understanding how small molecules control biological processes. Key research areas include:

• Environmental DNA approaches to discover new natural products from uncultured soil microbes
• Function-based discovery of microbially-produced small molecules in symbiotic relationships (e.g., fungus-growing ants, human gut microbiome)
• High-throughput screening for drug discovery against infectious diseases and other conditions
• Genome-based discovery of cryptic bacterial metabolites
• Protein structure and enzymology to understand molecular mechanisms in disease pathways

The Clardy laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular biology, biochemistry, and structural biology to investigate natural products and their biological roles. Current projects target infectious diseases such as malaria, sleeping sickness, and tuberculosis, as well as microbial symbioses that may yield novel therapeutic leads.

Dr. Clardy's lab maintains an active research group with regular community-building events including bun parties, holiday gatherings, and sports outings, fostering a collaborative environment.