Our People
Our team's scientists have various skill sets, all have same motivation to solve the problems and challenges in cancer research. We are looking for self-motivated scientists at any level to join us to identify novel therapeutic strategies for cancer.
Current Group Members:
Jun Qi
Dr. Qi received his BS degree from Fudan University in China, and obtained his PhD in Chemistry from University of Michigan with Prof. William Roush in 2006, and completed his postdoctoral training at MIT with Prof. Mo Movassaghi in 2009. Both his PhD and postdoctoral studies have been focused on the total synthesis of natural compounds and novel synthetic methodology development. After his postdoctoral training, Dr. Qi led the chemistry effort in Dr. James Bradner's laboratory on developing BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 and optimizing this chemistry probe to a human clinical candidate. Dr. Qi's study focuses on the design and synthesis of small molecule inhibitors targeting the gene regulation pathway for cancer therapy; and on understanding the roles of epigenetic proteins in cancers.
Dr. Qi received his BS degree from Fudan University in China, and obtained his PhD in Chemistry from University of Michigan with Prof. William Roush in 2006, and completed his postdoctoral training at MIT with Prof. Mo Movassaghi in 2009. Both his PhD and postdoctoral studies have been focused on the total synthesis of natural compounds and novel synthetic methodology development. After his postdoctoral training, Dr. Qi led the chemistry effort in Dr. James Bradner's laboratory on developing BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 and optimizing this chemistry probe to a human clinical candidate. Dr. Qi's study focuses on the design and synthesis of small molecule inhibitors targeting the gene regulation pathway for cancer therapy; and on understanding the roles of epigenetic proteins in cancers.
Lei Wu, Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Wu is a well trained synthetic chemist. She is enthusiastic about drug development aspects for cancer related targets. Dr. Wu is working on methyltransferase inhibitor development, such as DOT1L, EZH2, and NSD2, as well as understanding th biological functions of these targets in cancer via a multi-disciplinary approach.
Dr. Wu is a well trained synthetic chemist. She is enthusiastic about drug development aspects for cancer related targets. Dr. Wu is working on methyltransferase inhibitor development, such as DOT1L, EZH2, and NSD2, as well as understanding th biological functions of these targets in cancer via a multi-disciplinary approach.
Chengkui Pei, Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Pei is a well trained synthetic chemist, and is interested in drug development using chemistry as the backbone for his research. Dr. Pei's research focuses on novel inhibitor development and medicinal chemistry to further optimize the drug-like properties of probe molecules.
Dr. Pei is a well trained synthetic chemist, and is interested in drug development using chemistry as the backbone for his research. Dr. Pei's research focuses on novel inhibitor development and medicinal chemistry to further optimize the drug-like properties of probe molecules.
Wai-lung Ng, Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Ng is a well-trained synthetic chemist and chemical biologist. He completed his PhD training in organic chemistry at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and at MIT. His PhD works have led to the discovery of several stable, potent, and selective SGLT2 inhibitors as antidiabetic agents. He then moved to the University of Oxford as a Croucher Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow. His work at Oxford has led to the development of a new chemical strategy, namely “post-translational mutagenesis”, for studying post-translational modifications of proteins. With expertise in organic chemistry and chemical biology, he is currently developing small-molecule tool compounds that target epigenetic proteins for cancer therapy.
Dr. Ng is a well-trained synthetic chemist and chemical biologist. He completed his PhD training in organic chemistry at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and at MIT. His PhD works have led to the discovery of several stable, potent, and selective SGLT2 inhibitors as antidiabetic agents. He then moved to the University of Oxford as a Croucher Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow. His work at Oxford has led to the development of a new chemical strategy, namely “post-translational mutagenesis”, for studying post-translational modifications of proteins. With expertise in organic chemistry and chemical biology, he is currently developing small-molecule tool compounds that target epigenetic proteins for cancer therapy.
Lingling Dai, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Dai is a well-trained cancer biologist. She completed her joint-PhD training in Harvard University and Central South University in China. She then oriented her career path to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as a postdoctoral fellow, mainly focus on immune-metabolic signaling cross-talk under physiological and pathological conditions. She is currently working on using chemistry and chemical biology approach to obtain mechanistic understanding on targeted epigenetic proteins in cancer and to identify novel approach for cancer therapy.
Dr. Dai is a well-trained cancer biologist. She completed her joint-PhD training in Harvard University and Central South University in China. She then oriented her career path to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as a postdoctoral fellow, mainly focus on immune-metabolic signaling cross-talk under physiological and pathological conditions. She is currently working on using chemistry and chemical biology approach to obtain mechanistic understanding on targeted epigenetic proteins in cancer and to identify novel approach for cancer therapy.
Paul M. Park, Bioinformatic Analyst I
Mr. Park graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in General Biology in 2015. He had three years of research experience in the Konieczny lab at Purdue, researching key transcription factors related to pancreatic cancers. He is now working on develop biochemical assays, cellular assays, and studying the biological function of small molecule inhibitors in cancer. He is also interested in computational programming analysis data to identify the mechanism of target inhibition.
Mr. Park's many hobbies include hiking, tennis, soccer, basketball, acoustic guitar, and reading.
Mr. Park graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in General Biology in 2015. He had three years of research experience in the Konieczny lab at Purdue, researching key transcription factors related to pancreatic cancers. He is now working on develop biochemical assays, cellular assays, and studying the biological function of small molecule inhibitors in cancer. He is also interested in computational programming analysis data to identify the mechanism of target inhibition.
Mr. Park's many hobbies include hiking, tennis, soccer, basketball, acoustic guitar, and reading.
Virangika Kandatege Wimalasena, Lab Technician
Ms. Wimalasena graduated from The University of Kansas in 2018 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry. As an undergraduate, she had three years of research experience in three different labs researching the mechanism of toxicity of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease, Hsp90 as an anticancer target, and the inhibition of efflux pumps to combat antibiotic resistance.
Ms. Wimalasena graduated from The University of Kansas in 2018 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry. As an undergraduate, she had three years of research experience in three different labs researching the mechanism of toxicity of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease, Hsp90 as an anticancer target, and the inhibition of efflux pumps to combat antibiotic resistance.
Deyao Li, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Li is a well trained synthetic chemist. He completed his doctor’s training in Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry mainly focus on the Gold homogenous catalytic reactions. With the strong interest in life science especially the drug development, he joined Domestic Drug Discovery Unit at WuXi Apptec and obtained his experience on multiple targeted protein drug development projects for two years. With expertise in organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry, he is currently developing small-molecule probes, and establishing understanding of target inhibition in cancer research. The goal of his research is to identify novel therapeutic strategy for cancer.
Dr. Li is a well trained synthetic chemist. He completed his doctor’s training in Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry mainly focus on the Gold homogenous catalytic reactions. With the strong interest in life science especially the drug development, he joined Domestic Drug Discovery Unit at WuXi Apptec and obtained his experience on multiple targeted protein drug development projects for two years. With expertise in organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry, he is currently developing small-molecule probes, and establishing understanding of target inhibition in cancer research. The goal of his research is to identify novel therapeutic strategy for cancer.
Visiting Members:
Paula Zouitine: Undergraduate Research for fall 2018. Undergraduate Student at BU (Chemical Biology/Biology)
Paula Zouitine: Undergraduate Research for fall 2018. Undergraduate Student at BU (Chemical Biology/Biology)
Former Group Members:
Dr. Jennifer Perry, Senior Scientist
Current position: Associate Director for the Center of Pediatric Cancer Therapeutics in Pediatric Oncology, at DFCI.
Matthew Lawlor, Bio-informatics Analyst I
Current Position: Research Tech at MGH
Nana Kwaku Offei-Addo, Technician
Mousheng Xu, Ph.D. Bioinformatics Analyst II
Current Position: IT consulting
Michael Xiang (2017 Summer)
Michael will attend Johns Hopkins in Fall, 2018. Congratulations.
Morgan Schwartz: Summer Intern From University of Vermont. (Chemistry)
Dr. Jennifer Perry, Senior Scientist
Current position: Associate Director for the Center of Pediatric Cancer Therapeutics in Pediatric Oncology, at DFCI.
Matthew Lawlor, Bio-informatics Analyst I
Current Position: Research Tech at MGH
Nana Kwaku Offei-Addo, Technician
Mousheng Xu, Ph.D. Bioinformatics Analyst II
Current Position: IT consulting
Michael Xiang (2017 Summer)
Michael will attend Johns Hopkins in Fall, 2018. Congratulations.
Morgan Schwartz: Summer Intern From University of Vermont. (Chemistry)