Cancer Chemical Biology Major Students

Below are the Cancer Chemical Biology students who are a part of the larger integrated PhD Program.

Angelo

My lab combines the principles of biochemistry, protein engineering, and structural biology to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that govern cancer origination, progression, and perpetuation. My research focuses on: (1) mechanistically understanding how ubiquitin and structurally related ubiquitin-like (UBLs) protein modifications regulate the function, conformation, and activity of their targets, and (2) how alterations and crosstalk between ubiquitin and UBL pathways disrupt cellular homeostasis leading to oncogenic transformation.

Major Professor: Jennifer Binning, PhD

Christopher

Major Professor: Undergoing rotations

Elliot 

Our lab uses structural biology, directed evolution, and protein engineering to explore how cells communicate with one another. My current interest is in how cell-cell communication gives rise to polarity within tissues, and how dysregulation of this can promote aberrant proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis in cancer.

Major Professor: Vince Luca, PhD

Nada

My lab uses the tools of synthetic organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology to develop small molecules for studying and modulating therapeutically relevant cancer targets. My research is focused on the development of selective CDK11 inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer.

Major Professor: Andrii Monastyrskyi, PhD

Robert

Our lab combines biochemistry, protein engineering, and structural biology principles to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that govern cancer origination, progression, and perpetuation. My research focuses on: (1) mechanistically understanding human deglycation enzymes regulate the function and activity of their targets and (2) how glycation alters or changes other protein modifications and the implications of these disturbances on oncogenic transformation.

Major Professor:  Jennifer Binning, PhD

Sean

Research Interests – Main focus is in drug discovery, and the development of small molecules for studying and modulating therapeutically relevant cancer targets.

Major Professor: Andrii Monastyrskyi, PhD

Srishti

Research Interests: Main focus is in drug discovery, protein engineering and structural biology in the field of cancer.

Major Professor: Vince Luca, PhD

Sura-Attha

Our lab utilizes a multi-omics approach to study AML, MPN and MDS. My current work focuses on defining the roles of oncogenes and epigenetic regulators in the pathogenesis of MDS/MPN-U, a myeloid disorder with no available FDA-approved treatment. 

Major Professor: Seongseok Yun, MD, PhD

Yvonne

Major Professor: Undergoing rotations