Chenbo Wang

I am working with multiple stealth startups on target evaluation/chemistry strategies and project execution. I specialize in drug discovery using small molecule and targeted protein degradation/induced proximity modalities.

At Olema, I was responsible for leading a HtL PROTAC project. I also conceived multiple first-in-class project proposals for management's consideration.

At Bridgene, I was acting as project lead on one HtL and one screening phase covalent inhibitor projects. I was also responsible for assessing new biological targets for screening.

As an associate director, I was acting as a project co-lead to deliver LO milestone.

Chemistry lead for a late LO-stage synthetic lethality project. Delivered one molecule into clinic.

At Nurix I am acting as a chemistry co-lead of two targeted protein degradation projects. My primary responsibilities include: • Work with interdisciplinary and external teams, set project goals and strategies, coordinate resources for the execution of projects and ensure timelines • Analyze structural and literature data sets to generate hypotheses for optimization. Design compounds to test the hypotheses, prioritize target compounds, execute and troubleshoot their synthesis. • Act as liaison between functionalities in the company. Identify potential synergies and help implementing changes. • Engage external collaborators by aligning them on the project goals/strategies/plans. Provide them with updates and ensure timelines are met.

I managed a group of two scientists and lead early stage drug-discovery projects. As a project leader, I had led a microbiome project from its conception to SoPreLO milestone. I assembled an interdisciplinary team including structural research, assay development, protein production and sample management. Together we had built the expertise and infrastructure necessary for the project, as BI had no prior experience in bacterial targets. Meanwhile, we identified heterogeneity of microbiome and permeability of bacteria cells as the major challenges to the project and devised and implemented a hit finding plan tailored to address these challenges. For the screening, we assembled a focused substrate analogue screening deck and discovered multiple hits with high ligand efficiency suitable for follow-up. As a manager, I prioritized and assigned synthetic targets to associates and CRO, taking into consideration of report structure, workload and expertise. I had proactively engaged discussions with associates and CRO to ensure timely delivery of molecules. Besides project work, I had also organized literature sessions to coach team members on new concepts and processes in synthetic and medicinal chemistry.

At BI, I was a medicinal chemist primarily responsible for early stage drug discovery projects.I worked on a variety of targets, including kinases, helicases and GPCR receptors. I developed hit finding plans for novel targets and oversaw their implementation. I took leadership in lead identification efforts: I was responsible for several chemical series that successfully achieved hit-to-lead milestone, including series originated from high-throughput screening (HTS) and literature-to-lead (L2L). In both cases I conceived plans to study structural-activity relationships (SAR), executed the plans by synthesizing molecules and performed freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis. In order to expedite the exploration of SAR, I had rapidly developed novel synthetic methods tailored to provide maximum diversity. I had also processed HTS dataset and created data visualization for team. I was capable of building custom data analysis tools tailored to project needs.

Advisor: Amir H. Hoveyda (Boston College) And Richard R. Schrock (MIT) I was responsible for the successful development of two methodologies on the topic of catalyst-controlled Z-selective ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction: one affords disubstituted Z-olefins and the other affords trisubstituted Z-olefins. By doing so, I have solved a problem that persisted for over a decade in the synthetic community. The application of these new methods was demonstrated by myself in the total synthesis of epothilone D and C, the latter was done on gram scale, a significant challenge that required extensive synthetic planning and optimization.

Advisor: Peter Wipf At Pitt I chose to take the challenge of making haouamine A, a complex marine natural product with significant anti-cancer activities. I proposed a 28-step novel route to the molecule and executed 26 steps to arrive at a late-stage heptacyclic intermediate. In the process I have discovered a series of novel reactions, many of them are related to the unique feature of haouamine A's structure (a bent phenyl ring). I also confirmed the identity of seven late-stage intermediates through X-ray analysis. In another project, I designed and synthesized a library of indole-containing botulinum neurotoxin metalloprotease inhibitors. I then developed a highly active derivative based on the information of enzyme’s binding pocket obtained through structure-activity relationship studies. In my third project at Pitt, I developed and generated a series of tethered westiellamides (a hexapeptidic macrocycle) and studied their silver (I) complexation patterns using NMR titration and fluorescence spectroscopy. I achieved >1000-fold increase in affinity to Ag(I) compared to natural product westiellamide.

In my master's degree work I completed the synthesis of a cyclobutane thymine dimer utilizing a [2+2] photoaddition reaction. Subsequently I incorporated it into nucleosomes for DNA damage and repair studies.