Scripps Research Joint Appointments

The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology
Faculty, Graduate Program

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 complement 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;  The ACS Arthur C. Cope Award, 2012; The Wolf Prize in Chemistry, 2014; The Royal Society of Chemistry Robert Robinson Award, 2015; Elected Member of the National Academy of Science, 2002; American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1996; and President of Academia Sinica, 2006-2016.

Selected References

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

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

Danishefsky, S.J., Shue, Y.-K., Chang, M.N., Wong, C.-H. "Development of Globo-H Cancer Vaccine," Acc. Chem. Res. (2015) 48, 643.

Shivatare, S.S., Chang, S.-H., Tsai, T.-I., Tseng, S.Y., Lin, Y.-S., Cheng, Y.-Y., Ren, C.-T., Pawar, S., Tsai, C.-S., Shi, H.-W., Zeng, Y.-F., Liang, C.-H., Kwong, P.D., Burton, D.R., Wu, C.-Y., Wong, C.-H. "Modular Synthesis of N-glycans and Arrays for the Hetero-ligand Binding Analysis of Antibodies," Nature Chem. (2016) doi:10.1038/nchem.2463.

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