Chemical Biology Program Research
We combine chemical biology, structural and mechanistic insights, proteomics, protein engineering, and design to tackle tough problems at the forefront of cancer research.
Our Mission
To use the power of chemical biology and mechanistic understanding of biological processes to transform the way we study and target disease, especially cancer
Featured Studies
Structure-Guided Design of Potent and Selective Covalent Inhibitors Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease
Researcher: Sara J. Buhrlage, PhD | Buhrlage Lab
COVID-19 needs no introductions; however, although the pandemic threat has subsided, SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 remains a threat. The Buhrlage lab, in collaboration with scientists from Harvard Medical School and Abbvie, developed a new class of potent inhibitors that feature innovative chemistry-based solutions for one of the key viral proteases.
READ THE NEW PAPER HERE.
[PREPRINT] An epigenetic bifunctional that toggles between transactivation and repression
Researcher: William J. Gibson, MD, PhD | Gibson Lab
Proteins are key drivers of cellular processes in health and disease. Therefore, molecules that modulate their levels can be very useful as tools for research and as potential therapeutics. The Gibson lab and collaborators provide a proof-of-concept for bifunctional molecules that target p300/CBP transcriptional co-activators to switch between transactivation and repression depending on the cellular context.
READ THE NEW PREPRINT HERE.
AF2BIND: predicting small-molecule binding sites using the pair representation of AlphaFold2
Researcher: Nicholas Polizzi, PhD | Polizzi Lab
In order to develop targeted therapies, scientists first have to find a spot on their target protein where the drug could bind. This is a slow and painstaking process that often fails, leading to the classification of many potential targets as “undruggable”. The Polizzi lab now reports a method for discovery of drug binding sites, including those hidden from view, i.e. “cryptic” binding sites. This approach could be a game-changer and open numerous opportunities in small molecule drug discovery.
READ THE NEW PAPER HERE.
Explore More of Our Research Interests
Paving the Way with Chemical Biology
Take a look inside the growing Chemical Biology Program at Dana-Farber, where chemists and biologists work side by side to find answers to some of the most challenging problems in targeted cancer therapies.
Drug Discovery: Loren Walensky, MD, PhD
Loren Walensky, MD, PhD, of Dana-Farber's Department of Pediatric Oncology and the Chemical Biology Program, speaks about the collaborative drug discovery happening in the Longwood Center at Dana-Farber.
Medicinal Chemist Making New Drugs
Sara Buhrlage, PhD, of Dana-Farber's Department of Cancer Biology and the Chemical Biology Program, explains the collaborative process of creating first-in-class drugs at Dana-Farber.
Targeted Protein Degradation
Listen to Eric Fischer, Ph.D. explain targeted protein degradation, its history, and its promising future.
Research Spotlight
Nick Polizzi and his collaborator Edward Boyden (MIT) were awarded a prestigious 2025 Medical Research Grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation to develop a method for single-molecule protein sequencing via expansion microscopy. Once developed, the method will allow scientists to precisely and directly determine the sequence of every protein in the proteome.
