Program Overview

Chemistry and biology are typically viewed as discrete academic disciplines, yet the two are highly integrated. Today, scientists increasingly use chemical tools to study dynamic biological processes at the gene, cellular, and organismal level. The Broad Institute's Chemical Biology program applies this approach to biomedical research and the pursuit of new methods to ameliorate disease. Its activities aim to diminish existing and future gaps between biology and medicine.

Scientists in the Chemical Biology program develop systematic ways to explore biology using small molecule compounds. Small molecules are chemical bioprobes that the researchers use to modulate and perturb proteins and other biomolecules, either in isolation or in cells. The functions of these systems are then characterized in terms of their responses.

The program's activities revolve around a set of key themes: In one, program scientists develop high-throughput screening methods to identify useful bioprobes from collections of small molecule candidates. These screens include novel formats, such as small molecule microarrays that evaluate thousands of compounds simultaneously.

In another theme, program scientists advance methods to synthesize new small molecules for biomedical research. One such method is diversity-oriented synthesis, whereby large numbers of structurally distinct compounds are generated quickly. These compounds can be optimized by adding molecular appendages as part of the post-screening modifications.

The Chemical Biology program at the Broad also creates chemo-informatic tools to facilitate public access to data, methods, and information about small molecules and their functions. One such tool is ChemBank, a freely accessible, online collection of data and resources for biologists and chemists alike. ChemBank was created to encourage common standards for chemical genetic data and to enable identification of small-molecule-binding proteins.

Finally, the program develops noninvasive techniques to image living systems -- including single molecules -- in real time. This work will help scientists better understand both healthy and diseased systems, and aid in the development of new strategies for vaccines and other treatments.

Stuart Schreiber from Harvard University directs the Chemical Biology program at the Broad.