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In 1996, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology was established at TSRI, by a generous gift of $100 million from Aline W. and L.S. Skaggs through the Skaggs Institute for Research and their family foundation, The ALSAM Foundation. Four years later, their extraordinary commitment continues to support extraordinary science.

Today, the Skaggs Institute is comprised of faculty in five departments: Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Molecular and Experimental Medicine. The Institute supports more than 25 principal investigators and some 200 full-time researchers. With an average of more than 200 publications each year since its founding, the Institute has earned its reputation in the United States and worldwide for its accomplishments in a number of areas of critical importance including organic synthesis, antibody catalysis, protein structure, and RNA chemistry. It is these programs that have helped shape the Institute's research focus at the interface where innovative chemistry and biology meet.

While the Institute's ability to sustain broad, long-term projects makes it unique, a more subtle accomplishment is the growing synergy between research groups that the Institute has madepossible. Nowhere is this synergy more apparent than in the work of the three scientists featured in this issue of Endeavor.

Erik Sorensen is a craftsman when it comes to molecular development. Working on the edge between chemical and biology, he brings a sense of scientific history, and a broad perspective to his work. The molecules he chooses are significant, and show great promise as therapeutic agents.

Approaching his work from the biology side, Ben Cravatt has identified a marvelous enzymatic system that is implicated in many human functions, particularly sleep -- we might call it nature's sleep pill. Cravatt works in close collaboration with Erik Sorensen. Together, they define the Skagg's chemical biology focus.

Among his many research pursuits, Chi-Huey Wong has taken a highly novel approach to overcoming antibiotic resistance, one that could have an impact on a range of antibiotics beyond the aminoglycosides. His discoveries go significantly further than simple molecular manipulation. They hold the promise of progress against the whole challenge of antibiotic resistance.

In the four years since it began, The Skaggs Institute has emerged as the model for chemical biology research. Some of our research is applicable today, while other efforts are more basic, concerned with building the scientific foundation for the next generation of molecules targeted against disease. This level of commitment and the sheer concentration of outstanding research activity define the growing spirit of the Institute, and create a unique environment for the practice of chemical biology.

Because ultimately, our research identity will be the scientists we support - and the science we create.