Sumit Chanda, PhD

Professor

Department of Immunology and Microbiology

Research Focus

The Chanda Lab exploits systems-based approaches and cutting-edge technologies to study the virus-host interface and innate immunity, with a focus on RNA viruses that pose a pandemic threat. Basic findings drive drug discovery efforts through our group at Calibr, the translational research arm of Scripps, including the development of next-generation antivirals, adjuvants for vaccines, and immunotherapies. Our research efforts are supported by the Gates Foundation, the DoD, the Martin Delaney Collaboratory, AViDD and other NIH contracts, cooperative agreements and grants. The group has also partnered with major pharmaceutical and biotech companies for early-phase drug discovery in the field of antivirals and inflammatory diseases. Additionally, we are proud to be part of the development team behind Metascape, a web-based portal designed to provide a comprehensive gene list annotation and analysis resource for experimental biologists.

Education

Professional Experience

Select Publications

Juchem, Kathryn W.; Gounder, Anshu P.; Gao, Jian P.; Seccareccia, Elise; Yeddula, Narayana; Huffmaster, Nicholas J.; Côté-Martin, Alexandra; Fogal, St E.; Souza, Donald; Wang, Sarah Sirui S.; Glynn, Elizabeth R A; Yung, Ivy; Ritchie, Julie; Li, Li; Zheng, Jie; Mbow, M L.; Li, Jun; Chanda, Sumit K. NFAM1 Promotes Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Mouse and Human Monocytes. 2021, 12, 773445.
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Zhou, Yingyao; Zhou, Bin; Pache, Lars; Chang, Max; Khodabakhshi, Alireza H.; Tanaseichuk, Olga; Benner, Christopher; Chanda, Sumit K. Metascape provides a biologist-oriented resource for the analysis of systems-level datasets. 2019, 10, 1523.
Riva, Laura; Goellner, Sarah; Biering, Scott B.; Huang, Chun- T.; Rubanov, A N.; Haselmann, Uta; Warnes, Colin M.; De Jesus, Paul D.; Martin-Sancho, Laura; Terskikh, Alexey V.; Harris, Eva; Pinkerton, Anthony B.; Bartenschlager, Ralf; Chanda, Sumit K. The Compound SBI-0090799 Inhibits Zika Virus Infection by Blocking Formation of the Membranous Replication Compartment. 2021, 95, e0099621.
Stoneham, Ch A.; Langer, Simon; De Jesus, Paul D.; Wozniak, Jacob M.; Lapek, John; Deerinck, Thomas; Thor, Andrea; Pache, Lars; Chanda, Sumit K.; Gonzalez, David J.; Ellisman, Mark; Guatelli, John A combined EM and proteomic analysis places HIV-1 Vpu at the crossroads of retromer and ESCRT complexes: PTPN23 is a Vpu-cofactor. 2021, 17, e1009409.
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Yuan, Shuofeng; Yin, Xin; Meng, Xiangzhi; Chan, Jasper F.; Ye, Zi- W.; Riva, Laura; Pache, Lars; Chan, Chris Chun-Yiu C.; Lai, Pok- M.; Chan, Chris Chung-Sing C.; Poon, Vincent K.; Lee, Andrew C.; Matsunaga, Naoko; Pu, Yuan; Yuen, Chun- K.; Cao, Jianli; Liang, Ronghui; Tang, Kaiming; Sheng, Li; Du, Yushen; Xu, Wan; Lau, Chit- Y.; Sit, Ko- Y.; Au, Wing- K.; Wang, Runming; Zhang, Yu-Yuan Y.; Tang, Yan- D.; Clausen, Tho M.; Pihl, Jessica; Oh, Juntaek; Sze, Kong- H.; Zhang, Anna J.; Chu, Hin; Kok, Kin- H.; Wang, Dong; Cai, Xue- H.; Esko, Jeffrey D.; Hung, Ivan F.; Li, Ron A.; Chen, Honglin; Sun, Hongzhe; Jin, Dong- Y.; Sun, Ren; Chanda, Sumit K.; Yuen, Kwok- Y. Clofazimine broadly inhibits coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2. 2021, 593, 418-423.
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Madden, Patrick J.; Arif, Muhammad S.; Becker, Mark E.; McRaven, Michael D.; Carias, Ann M.; Lorenzo-Redondo, Ramon; Xiao, Sixia; Midkiff, Cecily C C.; Blair, Robert V.; Potter, E L.; Martin-Sancho, Laura; Dodson, Alan; Martinelli, Elena; Todd, John-Paul M.; Villinger, Francois J.; Chanda, Sumit K.; Aye, Pyone Pyone P.; Roy, Chad J.; Roederer, Mario; Lewis, Mark G.; Veazey, Ronald S.; Hope, Thomas J. Development of an In Vivo Probe to Track SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Rhesus Macaques. 2021, 12, 810047.
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Martin-Sancho, Laura; Lewinski, Mary K.; Pache, Lars; Stoneham, Ch A.; Yin, Xin; Becker, Mark E.; Pratt, Dexter; Churas, Christopher; Rosenthal, Sara B.; Liu, Sophie; Weston, Stuart; De Jesus, Paul D.; O'Neill, Alan M.; Gounder, Anshu P.; Nguyen, Courtney; Pu, Yuan; Curry, Heather M.; Oom, Aaron L.; Miorin, Lisa; Rodriguez-Frandsen, Ariel; Zheng, Fan; Wu, Chunxiang; Xiong, Yong; Urbanowski, Matthew; Shaw, Megan L.; Chang, Max W.; Benner, Christopher; Hope, Thomas J.; Frieman, Matthew B.; García-Sastre, Adolfo; Ideker, Trey; Hultquist, Judd F.; Guatelli, John; Chanda, Sumit K. Functional landscape of SARS-CoV-2 cellular restriction. 2021, 81, 2656-2668.e8.
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In the Media

New coronavirus approach shows promise in Scripps Research study, scientists say

La Jolla Light

Immunology & Microbiology COVID-19

News

Researchers map key human proteins that power coronavirus replication, pointing to new treatment strategies

Findings from Scripps Research reveal promising drug targets with potential to block coronaviruses at multiple stages of infection—even across different strains.

Podcast

Virologist gives update on H5N1, mpox, and preparing for an uncertain future

Roughly two years ago, virology expert and Scripps Research professor Sumit Chanda sat down with Science Changing Life to discuss all things pandemic preparedness and COVID-19. But the world is in a very different place now, with infectious disease threats like H5N1, mpox and Dengue virus on the rise. Chanda joins us once again to share the latest in the virology space, how scientists can be better communicators, and his advice for making sure we’re as prepared for an uncertain future as we can be.

Immunology & Microbiology virology

News

Collaboration awards enable scientists to design new medicines, more precisely edit DNA and fight drug-resistant bacteria

Scripps Research announces its 2024 recipients of Collaborative Innovation Fund grants.

Awards & Honors Institute News

In the Media

R&D for long COVID is collapsing

Chemical & Engineering News

Immunology & Microbiology COVID-19

Video

Combating microbial threats: A century of science changing life

Every day, scientists at Scripps Research are discovering and developing new treatments to combat today’s infectious disease threats—and tomorrow’s. Many of these researchers played a significant role in the COVID-19 pandemic, including identifying new antibody treatments and uncovering the virus’s structure. Meanwhile, they're also applying these key learnings to better prepare the global population for whichever microbial threat emerges next.

Integrative Structural & Computational Biology Immunology & Microbiology Calibr-Skaggs Centennial COVID-19 Immunology & Microbiology Infectious Diseases Integrative Structural and Computational Biology malaria

News

Leading minds on COVID-19 come together for pandemic preparedness symposium, hosted by Scripps Research

Symposium marks public launch of Center for Antiviral Medicines & Pandemic Preparedness (CAMPP) to develop new antiviral therapies in preparation for future pandemics.

Immunology & Microbiology Institute News COVID-19

Podcast

Sumit Chanda: How can we prepare for the next pandemic?

Professor Sumit Chanda is an infectious disease expert and immunologist, where he works both in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology and at Calibr, Scripps Research’s nonprofit drug discovery and development division. He has devoted his career to understanding how the immune system responds to numerous viruses, such as influenza, Dengue virus and SARS-CoV-2. Listen as we discuss everything from pandemic preparedness to drug discovery, as well as his unrelenting drive to uncover new treatment options—including for COVID-19.

Immunology & Microbiology COVID-19 virology