Sahil Sharma, PhD

I am a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Gabriela Chiosis at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. My work involves the development of novel small-molecule therapeutics targeting disease-specific variants of chaperones. These variants are involved in cell stress and may play a critical role in the development of cancer, neurodegeneration, and potentially other diseases. We use a unique chemical biology approach to investigate the stress-modified chaperones, termed epichaperomes, with the ultimate goal of translating agents into the clinic for the treatment of human diseases. In this regard, my expertise in designing and synthesizing small molecule inhibitors as well as biological probes for these targets has been critical to the successful outcomes of our research projects. I have an extensive knowledge of chemistry and its proper application for establishing structure activity relationships as well as a keen understanding of what is required to transform a molecule into a drug. I have also acquired knowledge of disease biology with the belief that it is the biology which drives the successful development of any drug discovery program. I believe that my experience to date put me in a position to uniquely impact the field by developing potential therapeutics and diagnostics for Alzheimer’s diseases. My work has resulted in multiple publications highlighting my proficiency to contribute to cutting edge research.