Our Science – O'Keefe Website

Barry R. O'Keefe, Ph.D.

Molecular Targets Laboratory Head, Protein Chemistry and Molecular Biology Section Associate Scientist Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute Bldg. 562, Rm. 201 P.O. Box B Frederick, MD 21702-1201 Phone:   301-846-5332 Fax:   301-846-6872 E-Mail:   okeefe@mail.ncifcrf.gov

Biography

Dr. O'Keefe is Deputy Chief of the MTL and Head of the Protein Chemistry and Molecular Biology Section (PCMBS).

Research

Our research efforts are generally split into two study areas: 1) cell-free assay development and identification of active compounds, and 2) the isolation and characterization of antiviral proteins from natural product extracts. In the first, our goals are to understand and define specific protein-ligand interactions and use that knowledge to adapt laboratory findings into both high-throughput screens and potential therapeutic discoveries. In the second, we carry out independent research on the discovery and characterization of novel antiviral proteins from natural products extracts. This research is necessarily multidisciplinary and collaborative both within the MTL, as well as the NCI, the NIH and with extramural collaborators interested in our scientific discoveries. Our group uses its expertise in protein chemistry, enzymology, molecular biology, natural products research and assay development to identify, isolate and biochemically characterize new bioactive moieties.

This page was last updated on 6/10/2013.