The goal of my program is to investigate the nature of chronic stress as it occurs in numerous diseases and aging. Our approach takes advantage of the way nature has evolved to control such stresses, and that is by a unique usage of the chaperome, referred to here as the chronic stress chaperome (CSC). The CSC is structurally, dynamically and functionally distinct from the housekeeping chaperome, and my lab has pioneered an approach to take advantage of such feature. By using innovative methods, we develop small molecule chemical tool sets specifically targeted to the CSC; these act as “sensors” of the CSC and, in turn, of the chronic stress-associated proteome. By the use of these unique tool sets we aim to understand, diagnose, and treat cellular processes associated with chronic stress.
Chemical Biology and Translational Research
We address multiple mechanistic and biochemical questions less amenable to approaches that treat the chaperome as monolithic entity (i.e., the classical biochemical and genetic tools). We investigate in native, endogenous systems, both at the cellular and the organismal level, the inherent proteome changes and mechanisms that lead to disease, i.e., we can understand. By sensing disease states through the chemical tool set, we go beyond investigation; we identify, measure, and quantify, i.e., we can diagnose. By attacking specifically the CSC, we perturb the disease-causing proteome, and thus revert or slow the disease phenotype, i.e., we can treat.
To summarize, we use a unique chemical biology approach targeted to the CSC to understand, diagnose, and treat cellular processes associated with chronic stress. The research group is interdisciplinary and functions with the understanding that we are able to discover and synthesize pharmacological agents, determine their mechanisms of action and significance in disease treatment, and ultimately develop rational strategies for their use in clinic.
Soon after joining the lab, trainees are exposed to views from colleagues with diverse backgrounds and start to see problems from a new perspective, developing their understanding of cancer and of ways to combat it. They also learn to approach projects in a collaborative and interdisciplinary manner, which we believe are key to our success in the discovery and translation of novel therapeutic options.
To successfully function in such diverse research interests, the lab relies on the services and input of several dedicated facilities available at MSK. We also rely on the expertise of numerous collaborators. Through my dual appointment in the Department of Medicine and the Program in Chemical Biology, I have direct contact with and play a bridging role between the basic scientists and clinicians involved in these interdisciplinary efforts.
