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Scripps Research Joint Appointments

The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology
Faculty, Kellogg School of Science and Technology

Research Focus

Research in the Wong lab encompasses a broad spectrum of bioorganic and synthetic chemistry. Development of small molecules targeting RNA and design and synthesis of inhibitors to enzymes and receptors are being performed to investigate how small molecules interact with biologically important molecules and in turn, learn more about the function of those molecules. Development of both synthetic and bioorganic strategies is also paramount to our research. Programmable one-pot reactions can be used for the synthesis of complex oligosaccharides and glycoarrays, and compliment development of new enzymatic catalysts for glycoprotein synthesis and other organic reactions.

Professional Experience

B.S. Chemistry/Biochemical Sciences 1966–1970 National Taiwan University
M.S. Biochemical Sciences 1975–1977 National Taiwan University
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry 1979–1982 MIT (with G.M. Whitesides)
Postdoctoral Fellow 1982–1983 Harvard University (with G.M.Whitesides)

Awards & Professional Activities

Searle Scholar Award in Biomedical Sciences, 1985 Presidential Young Investigator in Chemistry, 1986 ACS Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, 1993 The IUPAC International Carbohydrate Award, 1994 Elected Member of Academia Sinica, Taipei 1994 Elected Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1996 The ACS Harrison Howe Award in Chemistry, 1998 The ACS Claude S. Hudson Award in Carbohydrate Chemistry, 1999 The International Enzyme Engineering Award, 1999 Presidential Green Chemistry Award, 2000 The ACS Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, 2006 Humboldt Research Award for Senior Scientists, 2008 F. A. Cotton Medal for Excellence in Chemical Research, 2005 Elected Member of the National Academy of Science, 2002 Editor-in-Chief, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Executive Board Member, Tetrahedron Publications.

Selected References

Koeller, K., Wong, C.-H. "Enzymes for chemical synthesis." Nature (2001) 409, 232.

Ritter, T.K., Wong, C.-H. "Carbohydrate-based antibiotics: a new approach to tackle the problem of antibiotic resistance." Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. (2001) 40, 3508.

Sears, P., Wong, C.-H. "Toward automated synthesis of oligosaccharides and glycoproteins", Science (2001) 291, 2344.

Bryan, M.C., Fazio, F., Lee, H.-K., Huang, C.-Y., Chang, A., Best, M., Calarese, D.A., Blixt, O., Paulson, J.C., Burton, D., Wilson, I.A., Wong, C.-H. "Covalent display of oligosaccharide arrays in microtiter plates", J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2004) 126, 8640.

Links

The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology

Molecules Caught in the Act-- Scientists at TSRI Solve Elusive Enzyme Mechanism

The Skaggs Institute Scientific Report

Antivirals, Anti-Cancers, and Antibiotics in One Pot