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Chemical Biology

Chemical biologists apply chemistry to study biological systems in order to gain insight into biological problems at the molecular level, to better utilize biology, and to develop new drugs.

Chemical biology is the scientific discipline that aims to design and develop molecular strategies and tools including small molecule drugs/probes to characterize and validate their biological mechanism of action. In this way, chemical biology is the key bridge at the interface between chemistry, basic biomedical and veterinary research, and therapeutic science. Research in this area is highly interdisciplinary and spans the discovery of novel treatments for infectious disease and cancer to the design of microbes for the synthesis of complex molecules. Faculty in this area collaborate with a number of other departments and programs across campus to conduct cutting edge research at the interface of chemistry and biology.

Researchers in This Area

Wei-Chen Chang

Associate Professor, LORD Corporation Distinguished Scholar

Reza Ghiladi

Professor / Director of Graduate Programs / University Faculty Scholar

Jonathan Lindsey

Professor, Glaxo Distinguished University Chair

Dave Muddiman

Professor, Jacob and Betty Belin Distinguished Scholar, and Director of METRIC

Joshua Pierce

Howard J. Schaeffer Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and University Faculty Scholar

Leslie Sombers

Professor, University Faculty Scholar

Gavin Williams

Professor / Department Head / LORD Corporation Distinguished Scholar