معرفی
Seth Herzon is the Milton Harris '29 Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry at Yale University, with joint appointments in the Departments of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Radiology at the Yale School of Medicine. He is also a Member of the Yale Cancer Center and co-founder of Modifi Biosciences, which was acquired by Merck in Fall 2024. Herzon joined Yale in 2008 after completing his PhD at Harvard University and an NIH postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Her research focuses on organic synthesis with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms of action of DNA-damaging compounds, particularly anticancer and microbiome-derived natural products. His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding colibactin, a gut microbiome metabolite that induces colorectal cancer, and has developed novel chemotherapies targeting DNA repair defects in tumors. His work spans synthetic chemistry, chemical biology, and translational medicine, with projects ranging from total synthesis of complex natural products to developing antibacterial agents.
His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward microbiome-cancer interactions, particularly focusing on colibactin's role in carcinogenesis, alongside continued innovation in synthetic methodology and therapeutic development for drug-resistant cancers. His work bridges fundamental chemistry with clinical applications, particularly in cancer therapeutics.
Among his numerous accolades are the NSF CAREER Award, Searle Scholar Award, Packard Fellowship, Sloan Fellowship, Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, and the 2024 Yale Cancer Center Class of '61 Cancer Research Award. He served as Associate Editor for The Journal of Organic Chemistry from 2018-2023 and was a member of the United States Defense Science Study Group from 2018-2019.
Herzon has mentored numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. His laboratory at Yale continues to be at the forefront of chemical research with significant translational impact, particularly in cancer drug discovery. The lab maintains active collaborations with researchers across Yale, including in pharmacology, radiobiology, and cancer biology.
