The CBL periodically has openings for outstanding postdoctoral fellows. In addition, we participate in several student internship programs sponsored by the Center for Cancer Research, Frederick National Lab, and NIH.
Chemical Biology Laboratory
Spotlight
Recent awards and honors bestowed upon the CBL
Molecular Discovery Seminar Series
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Chemical Biology Laboratory
About
The Chemical Biology Laboratory (CBL) was established in 2009 as a multidisciplinary laboratory that emphasizes chemical science at the at the interfaces of chemistry, biology and materials science. The CBL conducts basic research central to the discovery of new small molecules, peptides, macromolecules, arrays and materials that impact cancer and AIDS diagnostics and treatment. The CBL evolved from the Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (LMC), a lab that had served as the focal point of chemical research within the NCI since 1970, historically steeped in the discovery and optimization of anticancer drugs. The Chemical Biology Lab was formed to expand the role of chemistry in defining and manipulating the biological processes that impact cancer and AIDS with the ultimate goal of translating basic research discoveries into therapies. We are a diverse group of synthetic organic chemists, chemical biologists, materials chemists, analytical chemists, and computational chemists that interact closely to create a collaborative and stimulating research environment. The CBL collaborates extensively with other NCI and broader NIH laboratories as well as academicians to accelerate discovery and translation.
PI & Key Staff
Principal Investigators
Key Staff
Job Vacancies
We have no open positions in our group at this time, please check back later.
To see all available positions at CCR, take a look at our Careers page. You can also subscribe to receive CCR's latest job and training opportunities in your inbox.
News
CBL Sweeps 2025 Frederick FARE Awards
The CBL boasts 6 winners in the 2025 Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE) 2025 competition. Their abstracts were deemed outstanding based on scientific merit, originality, experimental design and overall quality and presentation. This prize provides a financial award to attend and present this work at a scientific meeting within the United States. Look forward to more about these exciting projects in the near future.
Sumirtha Balaratnam, PhD
RNA G-quadruplex structure in KRAS mRNA as a Target for Small Molecules to control the KRAS expression
Mentor: Dr. John Schneekloth
Xuemin Chen, PhD
Hierarchical chemical inhibition of MYST acetyltransferase enzymes
Mentor: Dr. Jordan L Meier
Achyut Dahal, PhD
Therapeutic Applications of a MUC4 Glycopeptide Targeting Monoclonal Antibody in Pancreatic Cancer
Mentor: Dr. Joe Barchi
Tania L Lopez Silva, PhD
The effect of peptide design on the immunomodulatory properties of peptide-based materials
Mentor: Dr. Joel P Schneider
Pankaj S Mahajan, PhD
Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of N-Substituted Bicyclic Carbamoyl Pyridones (BiCAPs) as Potent Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs) Against Cabotegravir-resistant HIV-1 Integrase Mutants
Mentor: Dr. Terrence R Burke Jr.
Pradeep Shrestha, PhD
A pH-Activatable Imaging Strategy Beyond 1000 nm for Fluorescence Guided Surgery and Quantification of Antibody-Drug Conjugate Linker Cleavage
Mentor: Dr. Martin Schnermann
CBL Ushers in 2024 with an NCI Director's Innovation Award
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Congratulations to Dr. Shaifaly Parmar, a postdoctoral Fellow in the Schneekloth group for securing a 2024 NCI Director's Innovation Award. Her proposal entitled, “Severing fusion oncogene using small molecules” was evaluated based on degree of innovation and potential for high-impact breakthroughs; and follows the NIH 9-point scoring system used for grant applications. This award provides funding to pursue this project.
Twin Win for CBL Alum Dr. Yuji Yamada
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Congratulations go out to CBL Schneider Group Alum, Dr. Yuji Yamada, currently a Lecturer at the Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, on his presentation entitled, “Application of cell adhesive peptides to biomaterials”. This presentation earned Dr. Yamada a 2023 Annual Award by the The Pharamceutical Society of Japan and a 2023 Young Investigator Award by The Japanese Peptide Society.
Dr. Fa Liu: A meteoric rise from Postdoc to CSO
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Dr. Fa Liu joined the CBL as a Visiting Fellow in the Burke Group in 2004 (known as the Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry at the time) after obtaining his B.S (Nankai University) and Ph.D. (Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry) in chemistry. In 2009 he joined Eli Lilly, where he led multiple peptide lead optimization efforts and established well-recognized modern insulin chemistries. He then moved over to Calibrium, Inc. where he was instrumental in building the company’s pipeline until its acquisition by Novo Nordisk. He served as the Head of Chemistry at Novo Nordisk, and led its peptide and protein therapeutics discovery. In 2020 he co-founded Focus-X Therapeutics, where he served as CEO. In 2023 Focus-X was purchased by Full-Life Therapeutics, where Dr, Liu now serves as its Chief Scientific Officer. In this capacity he discovered five compounds that progressed into human studies, and contributed to other compounds currently in clinical trials in addition to the discovery the FDA approved drug Lyumjev® (insulin lispro-aabc).
Dr. Melissa Lucero wins 2024 Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education in Chemistry
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Dr. Melissa Lucero, a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Schnermann group, has won a 2024 ACS Nationl Award - the Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education in Chemistry. This national award was established in 1978 by Avantor and serves to encourage the advancement of chemistry in all its branches, support research endeavors, and promote the careers of chemists. Dr. Lucero was recognized for her work with Dr. Jefferson Chan (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) developing non-toxic small-molecule probes for visualization. National award recipients will be honored at the award ceremony Tuesday, March 19, 2024, in conjunction with ACS Spring 2024 in New Orleans.
Best Presentation Award - RetroIntegration2023 Conference
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The CBL congratulates its own Dr. Xue Zhi Zhao, a Senior Associate Scientist in the Burke group, for winning a Best Presentation award for his poster entitled "Structure-guided Optimization of HIV Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors" at RetroIntegration2023, the 7th International Conference on Retroviral Integration, hosted by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and held in Boulder, CO this summer.
Revealing HIV drug-resistance mechanisms through protein structures
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Molecular mechanisms by which HIV becomes resistant to Dolutegravir, one of the most effective, clinically used antiviral drugs for treating HIV have been discovered through a collaboration between the NCI and the Salk Institute. This new study, published in Science Advances on July 21, 2023, reveals how changes to the 3D structures of integrase, an HIV protein, can lead to Dolutegravir resistance and how other compounds may be able to overcome this resistance. Read more on MedicalXpress and ScienceDaily.
CBL Fellow wins 2023 Dr. Elizabeth A. Schram Award
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CBL congratulates its own Dr. Srijani Sarkar, a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Schneider Lab for winning the Dr. Elizabeth A. Schram award a the 28th American Peptide Symposium held in Scottsdale, AZ on June 24-29, 2023. Dr. Sarkar's poster entitled "Enhancement in the Mechanical Rigidity of Peptide Hydrogels by a Library of Dialdehyde Crosslinkers" earned her this award, which is given for the best presentation in the Young Investigator Poster Competition.
CBL Fellows Secure FARE 2024 Travel Awards
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Dr. Shaifaly Parmar (left) of the Schneekloth Group and Dr. Supuni Thalalla Gamage (right) of the Meier Group, earned FARE Travel Awards for 2024. The Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE), began in 1995 to recognize the outstanding scientific research performed by intramural postdoctoral fellows. The FARE award is a $1500 travel grant used to cover costs related to attending a scientific meeting in the US during the upcoming fiscal year.
2023 Cathay Award
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Kudos to Dr. Joel P. Schneider, Deputy Director for the Center for Cancer Research and Chemical Biology Laboratory Laboratory Chief who received the 2023 Cathay Award from the Chinese Peptide Society in recognition of his outstanding contributions to peptide science.
Dr. Pankaj Mahajan wins 2023 Intramural AIDS Research Fellowship Award
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Dr. Pankaj Mahajan, a post-doctoral Fellow in the Burke Group has been selected to receive an Intramural AIDS Research Fellowship in support of his research entitled, "N-Substituted Bicyclic Carbamoyl Pyridones (BiCAPs) as New Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs) Against the Drug-resistant Mutants of HIV-1 IN". Having demonstrated outstanding scientific potential through both a well thought out career development plan and a creative and thoughtful research plan, the Office of AIDS Research, the Office of Intramural Research (OIR), and the Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE) have selected Dr. Mahajan for this award which provides funds to cover his stipend and health insurance. A major mission of the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) and the Office of AIDS Research (OAR), is to train the next generation of researchers to continue the battle to halt the AIDS pandemic.
Dr. Xue Zhi Zhao Wins 2023 Travel Award
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Congratulations go to Dr. Xue Zhi Zhao, an Associate Scientist in the Burke Group, for being selected as a winner at the 2023 CCR and DCEG Staff Scientist and Staff Clinician Retreat. This theme of this year’s retreat was “Redefining What’s Possible: Development of novel cancer therapies”. Dr. Zhao's poster entitled, "Development of multidentate tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) inhibitors” earned him a financial travel award for use to attend and present this work at a scientific meeting this year.
Congratulations to 2023 NCI Director's Award recipient, Dr. Joel Schneider
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CBL Lab Chief, Dr. Joel P. Schneider was awarded a Department of Defense Reconstructive Transplant Research Program Award for his proposal, "Localized & Inflammation-Responsive Immunotherapy of VCA Rejection". The Director's Awards recognize important achievements made by NCI staff in support of the NCI mission.
Dr. John "Jay" Schneekloth, 2023 CCR FLEX Awardee
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In collaboration with Drs. Susan Lea and Hans Elmlund of the Center for Structural Biology, the CBL's own Dr. Jay Schneekloth was awarded a 2023 FLEX award for their proposal “Understanding RNA-Ligand Complexes with Cryo-Electron Microscopy and Chemistry”. The CCR FLEX Program is a means for CCR PIs to fund high-risk, high-impact projects that may be difficult to perform within their base allocation. The program facilitates technology development, the ability of PIs to embark on new directions, and creation of multi-PI collaborations. Since 2015, there have been 68 FLEX Awards that have resulted in over 100 publications, many in top-tier journals, as well as 24 new clinical trials and numerous commercial partnerships.
Resources
Chemical Synthesis Group
This group provides synthetic chemistry resources and expertise to the NCI intramural community.
Tools
CBL's CADD Group has developed a number of computer-based methods to aid in drug discovery, design, and development projects.
Seminars & Events
CBL sponsors several seminars and events targeted to various research and professional interests throughout the year. Click on one of the links below to see the schedule and to learn more.
Meet Our People
The Chemical Biology Laboratory boasts a wide variety of expertise stemming from outstanding fellows from diverse backgrounds who join the Lab for a Postbaccalaureate or Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Alumni
This is just a small sample of our most recent alumni. Over the years, our lab has trained a cadre of outstanding postdoctoral, doctoral and postbaccalaureate fellows. Many have gone on to hold leading positions in the scientific community.