St. Jude Research
Chair: Aseem Z. Ansari

Department of Chemical Biology & Therapeutics

  

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About the department

The Chemical Biology and Therapeutics (CBT) Department formulates innovative chemical and chemoinformatic solutions to resolve salient problems in biology and medicine. Fundamental research programs to uncover underlying biological processes are complemented by translational centers that house chemical synthesis, screening, and computational capabilities that mirror cutting-edge biotech/pharma operations, resources rarely accessible at academic institutions. 

The expertise and resources of CBT are leveraged across the institution, making it a highly dynamic and diverse collaborative hub at St. Jude. The scientific research arm of CBT is in an exciting growth phase; individuals with bold vision and demonstrated excellence in research at the interface of Chemistry, Biology, and Medicine are encouraged to join the team.

Department News and Events
CBT Catalyst Newsletter

Research focus areas

  1. Aseem Z. Ansari

    photo of Aseem Ansari

    Member,
    Chair, Chemical Biology & Therapeutics
    R. J. Ulrich Endowed Chair

    Research focus:
    Designing synthetic gene switches for transcription therapy

    Ansari Lab

  2. Daniel J. Blair, PhD

    photo of Daniel Blair, PhD

    Assistant Member
    Chemical Biology and Therapeutics

    Research Focus: 
    Covalent interactions between small molecules and proteins/RNA; automated synthesis and study of small organic molecules

    Daniel Blair bio

  3. Scott Blanchard, PhD

    photo of Scott Blanchard

    Member
    Structural Biology
    Chemical Biology & Therapeutics
    Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Endowed Chair in Molecular Imaging

    Research focus:
    Understanding structure-function relationships in complex biochemical systems at the single-molecule scale 

    Blanchard Lab

  4. Taosheng Chen, PhD, PMP

    photo of Taosheng Chen

    Member
    Chemical Biology & Therapeutics
    Director
    High Throughput Bioscience Center

    Research focus:
    Deciphering transcriptional regulation of therapeutic responses

    Chen Lab

  5. Tommaso Cupido, PhD

    photo of Tommaso Cupido

    Assistant Member
    Chemical Biology & Therapeutics

    Research focus:
    Understanding the chemical biology of essential protein machines

    Cupido Lab

  6. Hai T. Dao, PhD

    photo of Hai Dao

    Assistant Member
    Chemical Biology & Therapeutics
    Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Research Interests:
    Design of chemical probes to study epigenetic regulations, chromatin structure and function, protein engineering, cancer biology

    Dao Lab

  7. Marcus Fischer, PhD

    photo of Marcus Fischer

    Assistant Member,
    Chemical Biology & Therapeutics
    Structural Biology
    Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

    Research focus:
    Exploring the protein conformational landscape for ligand discovery

    Fischer Lab

  8. Richard E. Lee, PhD

    photo of Richard Lee

    Member
    Chemical Biology & Therapeutics
    Endowed Chair in Medicinal Chemistry
    Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Adjunct Professor, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

    Research focus:
    Discovering new antibiotics and other therapeutics using medicinal chemistry and chemical biology  

    Lee Lab

  9. Zoran Rankovic, PhD

    Photo of Zoran Rankovic

    Director, CBT Chemistry Centers

    Research focus:
    Design and development of small molecule probes to interrogate novel therapeutic targets and biological pathways for the treatment of pediatric cancers.

    Zoran Rankovic Bio

  10. Anang Shelat, PhD

    photo of Tudor Moldoveanu

    Associate Member
    Chemical Biology & Therapeutics
    Director, Lead Discovery Informatics and Compound Management
    Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Research focus:
    Identifying and translating druggable liabilities in pediatric cancers

    Shelat Lab

CBT Collaborative Centers

Leading state-of-the-art chemistry technologies centers focus on collaborative research with St. Jude investigators to further our understanding of biological mechanisms that result in childhood diseases. The overarching goal is to translate this knowledge into new therapeutic opportunities. CBT centers form an integrated pipeline to bring chemistry to medicine at St. Jude. Collaborative projects involve a close partnership between the laboratory and the participating centers.

Explore the CBT Collaborative Centers

Leadership

  • Aseem Z. Ansari

    Chair, Chemical Biology and Therapeutics

    R. J. Ulrich Endowed Chair 

    Faculty Bio

  • Julianne Bryan, PMP

    Director, CBT Operations

  • Taosheng Chen, PhD, PMP

    Director, High Throughput Bioscience Center

    Faculty Bio

  • Anang Shelat, PhD

    Director, Lead Discovery Informatics

    Faculty Bio

  • Natalie Racine

    Adminstrative Director

  • Zoran Rankovic, PhD

    Director, CBT Chemistry Centers

    Faculty Bio

Adminstration and operations team

  • Carolina Adura, PhD - Research Operations Manager
  • Candice Becton – Administrative Specialist
  • Roxy Chirlow - Coordinator, Grants and Contracts
  • Julian Earl - Program Specialist
  • Olivia Haymore - Sr. Administrative Specialist
  • Madison Rice, MS - Scientific Visualization Engineer
  • Cassandra Rytting - Sr. Administrative Specialist
  • Lauren Sides - Administrative Coordinator
  • Martina Sigal, MD, PhD - Lab Operations Manager
  • Toneshia Singletary - Administrative Specialist

Join us

St. Jude investigators have the freedom to focus on making big discoveries, backed by extraordinary resources and support teams. We are always looking for highly motivated scientists and engineers with passion and talent to join us!

Explore Open Faculty Positions
Explore All CBT Careers

Contact us

Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics

MS1000

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
901-595-8087 SPCBTAdminOps@stjude.org
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN, 38105-3678 USA
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