Charles Craik, PhD
Professor
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
School of Pharmacy

415-476-8146

My research interests focus on defining the roles and the mechanisms of enzymes and other challenging proteins in complex biological processes and on developing technologies to facilitate these studies. The current research in the Craik lab focuses on the chemical biology of proteolytic and protein degradation enzymes, receptors and membrane transporters.

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A particular emphasis of our work is on identifying the roles and regulating the activity of key proteins associated with infectious diseases, neurodegeneration and cancer. I am also interested in developing novel methods to biophysically characterize challenging proteins as well as their complexes. These studies coupled with our global substrate profiling, antibody engineering and noninvasive imaging efforts are providing a better understanding of both the chemical make-up and the biological importance of these critical proteins to aid in the rapid detection, monitoring and control of infectious disease, neurological disorders and cancer. This in turn is leading to the development of strategies for regulating these activities as a means of therapeutic intervention. Further study of these proteins holds promise for better understanding, rapid detection and eventual control of infectious diseases, cancer and neurodegeneration.

Awards

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  • Council Member, American Soc of Biochem and Mol Biol, 2020
  • Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2017
  • Emil T. Kaiser Award, Protein Society, 2016
  • Member, National Academy of Inventors, 2015
  • Lloyd Lecturer, Oregon Health and Science University, 2015
  • Broom Lecturer, University of Utah, 2015
  • Institute Medal Lecture and Award, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic, 2013
  • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2011
  • Lord Lecturer, Allegheney College (Meadville, PA), 2010
  • Council of Experts, United States Pharmacopeia, 2009
  • Co-organizer, Cold Spring Harbor Meeting on the Biology of Proteolysis, 2001
  • POSH Lecturer, Immunex Corporation (Seattle, WA), 2000
  • Co-organizer, Cold Spring Harbor Meeting on the Biology of Proteolysis, 1999
  • Chair, Gordon Conference on Proteolytic Enzymes and Inhibitors, 1998
  • Co-organizer, Cold Spring Harbor Meeting on the Biology of Proteolysis, 1997
  • Vice Chair, Gordon Conference on Proteolytic Enzymes and Inhibitors, 1996
  • Advisory Panel, National Science Foundation Molecular Biochemistry, 1993-1996
  • Distinguished Lecturer, Sigma Xi, 1991-1994
  • Nominating Committee, Member, The Protein Society, 1989-1990
  • Editorial Board Member, Applied Biocatalysis, 1989
  • Editorial Board Member, DNA, 1988
  • Associate Editor, Protein Engineering, 1988
  • Editorial Board Member, BioTechniques, 1987-1997
  • Top 100 Innovators, Science Digest, 1985-1986
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institutes of Health, 1983-1984
  • Member, American Society of Biological Chemists, 1983
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, American Cancer Society, 1982-1983
  • Member, The Amer. Chem. Soc, The Amer. Assoc. for the Advan. of Science, 1978
  • Richard Edwin Lee Scholar, 1975
  • Doane Distinguished Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, 1974-1975
  • Alden Scholar, National Honor Society, 1972-1975

Education & Training

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  • Postdoc Biochemistry & Biophysics UCSF 09/1985
  • PhD Chemistry Columbia University 06/1981
  • MA Chemistry Columbia University 10/1977
  • BS Chemisty Allegheny College 05/1976

Interests

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  • Protein engineering
  • Recombinant antibodies
  • Small molecule and biologic drug discovery and development
  • Diagnostic and prognostic development
  • Global substrate profiling

Websites

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Grants and Projects

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Publications (401)

Top publication keywords:
Recombinant ProteinsReceptors, Urokinase Plasminogen ActivatorHIV ProteaseSerine ProteasesUrokinase-Type Plasminogen ActivatorHerpesvirus 8, HumanPeriplasmic ProteinsSubstrate SpecificityProtease InhibitorsSerine EndopeptidasesImmunoglobulin Fab FragmentsTrypsinPeptide LibraryPeptide HydrolasesSerine Proteinase Inhibitors

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