Boston National Meeting Issue

http://www.nesacs.org

Summer/September 2018 Vol. XCVII, No.1

Monthly Meeting James Edward Phillips Sam Kean, Science Writer, to Speak at Salem State 1946-2018 University nd Life as an Assistant 22 Andrew H. Professor: A Weinberg Memorial Retrospective Lecture Nada Jabado, M.D., Ph.D. to Speak at Dana-Farber By Mindy Levine, 2018 NESACS Chair Cancer Institute James Edward Phillips January 9, 1946–June 13, 2018 house in Natick and we always enjoyed ford, Massachusetts until his retirement. his hospitality. James is survived by his devoted Jim was proud of his children and wife, Dr. Dorothy Wingfield Phillips of grandchildren and often talked of his vis- Natick. He was a loving dad to Vickie its to Georgia to visit his son, Anthony, A. Thomas and her husband Albert of and daughter, Vickie, and their families. Ellenwood, GA; Pastor Anthony J. I remember teasing him as to whether Phillips of Atlanta, GA and Crystal J. there was any family conflict when the Mayo of Natick. He was the grandfather Patriots played the Falcons in Super of Braelen Phillips; Andrew Phillips; Bowl LI. Another daughter, Crystal, Anthony Phillips, Jr; Elizabeth Mayo; lives locally with her children. Logan Mayo; Brian Walker and Eric James Phillips was born on January Lockett and Great-grandfather of Brian 9, 1946 in Nashville, TN to the late Mar- Walker, Jr. We are sorry to report the passing of garet E. (Phillips) Walker and Douglas He was the brother of Herbert James Edward Phillips. James was a Harris. He received his B.S. degree from Phillips and his wife Cassaundra; Dou- longtime contributor to NESACS and Tennessee State University in Nashville glas Harris, Jr.; Riley Harris; Deborah husband of ACS Board of Directors and his M.S. in Inorganic Chemistry Harris and Mitzi Harris, all of Nashville, Member, Dorothy Phillips. James was a from the University of Cincinnati. Tennesee. He was brother-in-law of Dr. long-time member of the Board of Pub- Jim was a Research Chemist at Robert Wingfield; Oddie Wingfield and lications (BOP) including several terms Sheppard Chemical Company, Norwood, Dr. Shirley Wingfield; Dwight Wing- as chair. He had a passion for photogra- Ohio; a Technical Service Engineer at field; Addie Jenkins; Patricia McCarroll; phy and contributed many photos to the the Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Elsie Hurt, all of Nashville, TN and Rev. Nucleus and the NESACS website. He Michigan; Chemical Supervisor at Margaret Smith of Belleville, IL. James served NESACS as a Director-at-Large Corning Medical, Medfield, Massachu- was preceded in death by his sister and he ran for Chair of NESACS in 2013. setts; Laboratory Supervisor at Muro Paulette Gray and his nurturing uncle The members of the BOP received Pharmaceutical Company, Tewksbury, and aunt George and Ethel Hart. an ominous email on June 12 that Jim Massachusetts and a Technical Service u -M. Filosa had a heart attack. He passed the next Engineer at Waters Corporation, Mil- day and the membership was notified broadly on June 15. His wake was held the following Tuesday in Wayland at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home. His serv- ice was held the next morning at the Fisk United Methodist Church in Natick and interment followed immediately after at the Dell Park Cemetery in Nat- ick. Family kindly suggests that memo- rial gifts in James’ memory be sent to Fisk United Methodist Church, 106 Walnut St, Natick, MA 01760 or The Multiple Myeloma Research Fund, 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851. For condolences please visit: www.johncbryantfuneralhome.com I don’t remember when I first met Jim, but I recall him first as a photogra- pher for the Nucleus when I became ed- itor in 2005. He was always a most congenial person and I always enjoyed seeing him whether it was at a National Meeting of the American Chemical So- ciety or one of our local section meet- ings. He graciously hosted several Board of Publications meetings at his

2 The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 The Northeastern Section of the American- Chemical Society, Inc. Contents Office: Anna Singer, 12 Corcoran Road, Burlington, MA 01803 James Edward Phillips 2 (Voice or FAX) (781)272-1966. ______e-mail: [email protected] NESACS Homepage: January 9, 1946-June 13, 2018 http://www.NESACS.org Life as an Assistant Professor: A Retrospective 4 Officers 2018 ______Chair By Mindy Levine Mindy Levine 35 Cottage St Monthly Meeting 5 Sharon, MA 02067-2130 ______(516)697-9688 Sam Kean, Science Writer, to Speak at Salem State University [email protected] Report on the 21st Andrew H. Weinberg Memorial Lecture 6 Chair-Elect Andrew Scholte ______Sanofi By Robert Levy, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Waltham, MA The 22nd Annual Andrew H. Weinberg Lecture 7 617-459-5145 [email protected] Nada Jabado, M.D., Ph.D. to speak at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Immediate Past Chair Leland L. Johnson, Jr. Call for Nominations 8 Euretos ______Cambridge, MA 2018 Theodore William Richards Medal Award, The Gustavus John Esselen +1.617.304.6474 [email protected] Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest, NSYCC/NESACS-JCF/GDCh Ex- Secretary change to Germany, March 2019. Michael Singer A Medicinal Chemistry Symposium 9 MilliporeSigma ______3 Strathmore Rd, Natick, MA 01760 (774)290-1391, [email protected] “The Future of Anti-infectives” Treasurer 2018 NESACS Election Results 9 Ashis Saha ______67 Bow St Chemical Biology in the Hub Announcement 10 Arlington, MA 02474-2744 (978)212-5462 [email protected] 2018 NESACS Process Chemistry Symposium Announcement 11 Auditor __ Patrick Gordon Esselen Award Photos by Joel Laino 12 Archivist ______Ken Mattes Cover: Trustees Dr. James Bradner, M.D., President, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Peter C. Meltzer, Dorothy Phillips, Ruth Tanner Research, speaks at the 21st Annual Andrew H. Weinberg Memorial Lecture on Directors-at-Large David Harris, June Lum, Michael P. Filosa, “New Paths to the Waterfall: Rethinking the Science of Therapeutics for Pedi- John Neumeyer, James U. Piper, Ralph Scannell atric Malignancies.” (Photo by Sam Ogden) Councilors/Alternate Councilors Editorial Deadlines: Term Ends 12/31/2018 November 2018 Issue: September 15, 2018 Katherine Lee Chris Moreton December 2018 Issue: October 15, 2018 Catherine E. Costello Ajay Purohit Ruth Tanner June Lum Kenneth Mattes Malika Jeffries-EL Jackie O’Neil Joshua Sacher Term Ends 12/31/2019 Thomas R. Gilbert Ashis Saha Mary Jane Shultz Mary A. Mahaney Michael Singer Jerry P. Jasinski Lisa Marcaurelle Raj (SB) Rajur The Nucleus is published monthly, except June and August, by the Northeastern Section of the American Leland L. Johnson, Jr. Matthew M. Jacobsen Chemical Society, Inc. Forms close for advertising on the 1st of the month of the preceding issue. Text Term Ends 12/31/2020 must be received by the editor six weeks before the date of issue. Michael P. Filosa Morton Z. Hoffman Editor: Michael P. Filosa, Ph.D., 18 Tamarack Road, Medfield, MA 02052 Email: Carol Mulrooney Sonja Strah-Pleynet Patricia A. Mabrouk Andrew Scholtet [email protected]; Tel: 508-843-9070 Anna W. Sromek Patrick M. Gordon Associate Editors: Myron S. Simon, 60 Seminary Ave. apt 272, Auburndale, MA 02466 Sofia A. Santos Morton Z. Hoffman, 23 Williams Rd., Norton, MA 02766 Board of Publications: Ajay Purohit (Chair), Mary Mahaney, Ken Drew, Katherine Lee All Chairs of standing Business Manager: Vacant: contact Michael Filosa at [email protected] Committees, the editor of THE NUCLEUS, and Advertising Manager: Vacant: contact Michael Filosa at [email protected] the Trustees of Section Calendar Coordinator: Vacant: contact Michael Filosa at [email protected] Funds are members of the Photographers: Morton Hoffman Board of Directors. Any Coun cilor of the American Chemical Society Proofreaders: Donald O. Rickter, Morton Z. Hoffman residing within the section area is an ex officio Webmaster: Roy Hagen, Email: [email protected] member of the Board of Directors. Copyright 2018, Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society, Inc.

The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 3 Life As An Assistant NESACS Sponsors 2017 Platinum $5000+ Professor: Boston Foundation Esselen Award SK Life Science A Retrospective Amgen, Inc Johnson Matthey Mindy Levine, Associate Chemistry Professor Vertex Pharmaceuticals 2018 Chair, Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society Davos Pharma Biogen I remember when I thought that getting working around the clock to prepare and tenure was going to be my ticket to less deliver my advanced organic chemistry PCI Synthesis work, that the days, nights, and week- course for senior-level graduate students Navin Fluorine International Ltd ends of seemingly endless work to ob- for the first time. Mostly I kept teaching Gold $3000 up to $5000 tain tenure was going to come to an end that same class, although there was one Merck Research Corp at some point in the not-so-distant fu- semester where I taught 192 sopho- Signal Pharmaceuticals ture. It was that hope, partially, that nur- more-level students who were majoring J-Star Research tured me through six years of Assistant in biology, engineering, pharmaceutical IPG Women Chemists Professorship, from 2010 to 2016. That sciences, nursing, animal sciences, and Abbvie light at the end of the tunnel of getting a seemingly endless array of other major tenure would make it all worth it, I fig- fields of study, none of which were Silver $1500 up to $3000 ured, and soon that day would come. chemistry. “You don’t understand,” one Mettler Toledo Being an Assistant Professor was student wrote on a mid-semester evalu- Sanofi US Services interesting, to say the least. During those ation, which I distributed in order to pro- Warp Drive Bio six years of my life, I applied for more vide students with the opportunity to Pfizer than 100 grants. Most of them were re- comment on my in-class performance. LAVIANA jected; a few, just enough it seemed, “We don’t really care about learning Strem Chemicals were funded. The funds were enough to chemistry.” I understood. keep my laboratory of 4-6 graduate stu- The service, I knew, could take as Bronze $500 up to $1500 dents running, were sometimes enough much time as I let it, but I felt a deep- Chemical Computing Group to host a postdoctoral research fellow rooted moral imperative to help the next Xtuit Pharmaceuticals for a short-term appointment, but were generation of students succeed in science, Cydan Development Inc never quite enough to expand the group especially for those students who iden- Achillion Pharmaceuticals in any substantial way. The funding tify as members of under-represented Alkermes came from lots of small grants and a few demographic groups. In the physical sci- FLAMMA big ones, including the one that probably ences, including chemistry, under-repre- Safety Partners Inc made my tenure case successful: An sented demographic groups in 2018 still Piramal Pharma Solutions’ NSF CAREER grant from the Division includes anyone who is not a cis-gen- of Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and dered, heterosexual, able-bodied white Selvita, Inc. Nanochemistry, which I obtained on my man. Since that demographic descrip- Organix third (and final) try, and which provided tion does not include me, my interest in CreaGen Life Science 5 years of substantial funding to support broadening participation in science has Entasis Therapeutics my research program. a non-trivial personal component and Morphic Therapeutic The papers were rejected most of self-interest as well. Other service of Interchim, Inc the time as well, with an average of 3 re- note included my work on the Univer- Xtal Biostructures jections before each paper was accepted. sity Work-Life Committee, and my role Quartet Medicine Keep submitting, I said to myself, and in establishing a Professional Family Anton Parr USA that mantra carried me to 27 peer-re- Travel Fund to enable faculty and staff Biotage viewed scientific publications in those members to better balance professional Bioduro six pre-tenure years. 27 publications, as- and family caregiving responsibilities. suming 3 rejections per paper, meant Personally, I needed as much help Novalix Pharma that I had prepared and submitted my balancing professional and caregiving Thermo Fisher work 81 times. responsibilities as I could get. In parallel Cresset Group And then, of course, there was the with establishing a lab, obtaining fund- Custom NMR Services teaching and the service components of ing, publishing papers, teaching courses, my job. The teaching was mostly and working for the service of the straightforward, after the first year of continued on page 14

4 The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 Monthly Meeting Biography: The 980th Meeting of the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society – Sponsored by Strem Chemicals Thursday – September 20, 2018 Salem State University Ellison Campus Center 352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970 Please join us for our September Monthly meeting to honor our 50 and 60 year members of the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society. Our Sam Kean spent years collecting mer- keynote speaker is Mr. Sam Kean, renowned scientific writer. You may have read cury from broken thermometers as a kid, one of Sam’s books in the past including “The Disappearing Spoon.” His lecture and now he’s a writer in Washington, will catch your attention with interesting stories from the periodic table. There D.C. His stories have appeared in The will also be an opportunity to learn about the archives of the section, which are Best American Science and Nature Writ- located at Salem State University. We want to thank Strem Chemicals and Salem ing, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The State University for their support of this event. New York Times Magazine, Slate, and 4:30 pm NESACS Board Meeting - Presidential Conference Room Psychology Today, among other places, and his work has been featured on NPR’s 5:30 pm Social Hour – Veterans Hall “Radiolab,” “Science Friday,” and “All 6:30 pm Dinner - Veterans Hall Things Considered,” among other shows. Caesar’s Last Breath 7:30 pm Presentation of 50 and 60-year member awards. was named the Guardian science book of the year Evening Presentation: in 2017, while The Disappearing Spoon Speaker: Sam Kean, Science Writer was a runner-up for the Royal Society Title: “The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Mad- book of the year. Both The Violinist’s ness, Love and History from the Periodic Table of the Elements” Thumb and The Dueling Neurosurgeons were nominated for PEN’s literary sci- For those who would like to join us for dinner, register by noon, Thursday, Sep- u tember 13, 2018. Reservations are to be made using Eventbrite services: ence writing award. https://sam-kean-nesacs-disappearing-spoon.eventbrite.com Select the Education Night Awards and the appropriate ticket price. Cost: Mem- bers, $30; Non-members, $35; Retirees, $20; Students, $10. Dinner reserva- Abstract: tions not cancelled at least 24 hours in advance must be paid. “The Disappearing Spoon: If you have any questions or require additional information, contact the Ad- And Other True Tales of Mad- ministrative Coordinator, Anna Singer, via email at [email protected] . ness, Love and History from the YOU MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE TO ATTEND THE MEETING: Periodic Table of the Elements” THERE IS NO REGISTRATION FEE TO ATTEND THE MEETING; Why did Gandhi hate iodine? Why did DINNER RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles THE PUBLIC IS INVITED made of cadmium? How did radium Directions to Salem State University - From Route 128 via Lowell Street Exit: nearly ruin Marie Curie’s reputation? • Follow Lowell Street into downtown Peabody And why did tellurium lead to the most • Lowell Street turns into Main Street which turns into Boston Street in Salem bizarre gold rush in history? The Periodic Table is one of our • Continue straight on Boston Street until it ends crowning scientific achievements, but it’s • Turn right on Essex Street also a treasure trove of passion, adven- • At first set of lights, turn left onto Jackson Street ture, betrayal, and obsession. The Disap- • At the end of Jackson Street, turn right on Jefferson Avenue pearing Spoon delves into every single • Follow Jefferson Avenue to Loring Avenue element on the table and explains each one’s role in science, money, mythology, • Turn left for North Campus, bear right at the next light to stay on Loring Av- u war, the arts, medicine, alchemy, and enue other areas of human history, from the u Big Bang through the end of time.

The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 5 Report on the 21st Andrew H. Weinberg Memorial Lecture Weinberg lecturer challenges notion that some drug targets are out of reach By Robert Levy, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Reprinted with permission from DFCI Online Many of the genes and proteins that make the most enticing targets for new cancer therapies have been deemed off- limits because they are considered “un- druggable” – too remote within the cell or too shape-shifting to be blocked with drugs made from small molecules. But new techniques for snaring and elimi- nating such proteins suggest it is far too early to slap the “undruggable” label on them, the presenter of the 21st Annual Andrew H. Weinberg Memorial Lecture told a standing-room-only audience at Dana-Farber earlier this month (October 2017). Titling his talk, “New Paths to the Waterfall: Rethinking the Science of Therapeutics for Pediatric Malignan- James Bradner gives the keynote talk at the 21st Annual Andrew H. Weinberg Memorial Lecture. cies,” James Bradner, M.D., president Photo by Sam Ogden of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical and crevices where small drug mole- The advantages of this approach are Research, brought listeners inside his cules can lodge, Bradner noted. clear: “Eliminating a protein altogether team’s efforts to harpoon some of the The result is a prevailing sense of can have a greater effect than disabling most elusive, but powerful targets in defeatism about developing drugs its biochemical or biophysical function,” cancer medicine. In one case in particu- against them. “‘Undruggable’ is my least Bradner explained. “In addition, pro- lar, those efforts spring directly from his favorite term in science,” he confided. teins and gene circuits can adapt when a research at Dana-Farber, where he was “It literally means we haven’t drugged protein is blocked. A drug that eradicates a member of the Chemical Biology Ini- it yet, but it has come to mean ‘Don’t the protein, by contrast, may not only be tiative until 2015. bother.’” The path to a more versatile more potent but might have a longer- “We’re at an awkward moment in drug – the “waterfall” of his title – de- lasting effect.” cancer medicine,” Bradner observed. mands novel thinking. “It will require a Lastly, he touched on two other ap- “Never before have we had a better ap- reconsideration of the science of thera- proaches his team is taking. One, called preciation of the hard-wiring of cancer, peutics, from which these new drugs conformational restructuring, involves with total certainty of its genetic origins, would arise,” he said. “gluing” proteins into odd combinations but we face the humbling reality that we He began a detailed discussion of so they are incapacitated. The other uses lack the therapeutic instruments to re- one approach to such novel therapies. RNA to bind to and interfere with pro- spond to that information.” Where conventional targeted therapies teins. “If targeting RNA is possible,” he Bradner focused his remarks on the are designed to block or disable a can- said, “then nothing is undruggable.” key operators of the cell’s machinery for cer-related protein, Bradner and his team The Andrew H. Weinberg Memorial division – proteins known as transcrip- are at work on agents that would destroy Endowment Fund was created in 1995 tion factors which switch genes on and such proteins – an approach they call tar- with the support of family and friends of off and are almost always out of balance geted protein degradation. The research- Dana-Farber patient Andrew H. Wein- in pediatric cancers. Appealing as such ers have constructed drug molecules berg, along with the Medicinal Chem- factors are as potential drug targets, they with two “arms,” or active regions. One istry Group of the Northeastern Section present chemists and drug-designers arm binds to the targeted protein. The of the American Chemical Society and with an array of technical and concep- other holds a proteosome, part of the Dana-Farber. The fund is dedicated to tual challenges. “They live in the nu- cell’s trash-disposal machinery. When bringing researchers from the field of cleus, where antibody drugs can’t go, the drug molecule attaches to its prey cancer drug development together with and they lack druggable pockets,” nooks protein, the trash disposal eliminates it. continued on page 13

6 The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 22nd Annual Andrew H. Weinberg Symposium

Nada Jabado, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Pediatrics and Human Genetics, McGill University, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center Montreal, QC, Canada “Oncohistones: Exquisite Opportunities and Therapeutic Vulnerabilities” September 6, 2018 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Yawkey Conference Center, 3rd Floor, Y306 and Y307 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215 Live webcast link for lecture: https://bit.ly/2MgmmNZ Free parking in the Yawkey Center garage, entrance on Jimmy Fund Way. Abstract: Biography: Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer related mortal- Dr. Nada Jabado is a Professor ity and morbidity in children and young adults. High grade of Pediatrics and staff physi- gliomas (HGG) are a particularly lethal and disabling, with cian at McGill University. She barely 10% of children and young adults surviving 3 years completed her residency in pe- after their diagnosis, regardless of enormous efforts to achieve diatrics with a specialization in Zingly similar histology. Our landmark discoveries, the foun- hemato-oncology. She also ob- dation of the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classi- tained a PhD in Immunology fication, showed that epigenetic deregulation during brain in Paris, France, followed by a development is at the core of these cancers. We were the first postdoctoral fellowship in bio- to identify high-frequency recurrent, gain-of-function, somatic chemistry at McGill. She began mutations at specific residues in histone 3 (H3) variants in her career as an independent in- HGG affecting children and young adults. The two mutations vestigator at McGill in 2003, pioneering a research program in found in HGG lead to amino acid changes in key residues of pediatric brain tumors which is now unparalleled. Her group H3 variants: K27M in one of the genes H3F3A/H3.3, uncovered that pediatric high-grade astrocytomas (HGA) are HIST1H3B or HIST1H3C/H3.1 occurs in 80% of HGG in the molecularly and genetically distinct from adult tumors. More brain midline, including the deadly diffuse intrinsic pontine importantly, they identified a new molecular mechanism driving gliomas; G34V or G34R in H3F3A/H3.3 occurs in 36% of pediatric HGA, namely recurrent somatic driver mutations in HGG in the cerebral hemispheres. These “oncohistones” are the tail of histone 3 variants (H3.3 and H3.1). the pediatric counterpart of the recurrent mutations in isoci- Dr. Jabado’s ground-breaking work has created a para- trate dehydrogenase enzymes (IDH) identified in young adult digm shift in cancer with the identification of histone muta- gliomas, which we now know indirectly affect these histone tions in human disease which has revolutionized this field, as marks. We uncovered mutations in SETD2, a H3K36 tri- the epigenome was a previously unsuspected hallmark of onco- methyltransferase, in HGG of the cortex and further showed genesis, thus linking development and what we now know are that K27M and G34R/V H3 mutations are tightly correlated epigenetic-driven cancers. This work and other publications with a distinct global DNA methylation pattern and have neu- are considered landmark papers (over 3000 citations since roanatomical specificity. Indeed, H3K27M specify brain mid- 2012). Dr. Nada Jabado has over 150 peer-reviewed publica- line gliomas, while alterations directly or indirectly affecting tions to her credit, with an impressive number of senior-au- the K36 mark (SETD2, H3.3G34R/V) chart HGG of the cere- thor, high-impact publications in such prominent journals as continued on page 13 continued on page 13

The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 7 Call for Nominations

2018 Theodore William chemistry. The selection committee fo- dents of chemistry, biochemistry, and Richards Medal Award cuses on the general public recognition chemical engineering (including mate- The ACS Northeastern Section is solic- of the work, as well as its scientific/tech- rials science) at colleges and universities iting nominations for the 2018 Theodore nical significance. within the Northeastern Section. Appli- William Richards Medal Award for con- The Award consists of a bronze cants must be engaged in original re- spicuous achievement in any area of medal and the sum of $5,000. Travel search to spend a week in Germany as chemistry. The medal honors the U.S.’s expenses incidental to the conferring of the guests of the Jungchemikerforum first chemistry Nobel Laureate and is the award will be reimbursed. The (Young Chemists Committee; JCF) of awarded every two years. The 2016 award will be presented at the April the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker Richards Award was presented to Pro- 2019 meeting of the Section. The (German Chemical Society; GDCh). The fessor Gabor A. Somorjai of the Univer- Awardee is expected to deliver an ad- exchange group will consist of up to 12 sity of California at Berkeley. dress on the subject of the work for students and a number of faculty and in- Nomination packages, consisting of which the honor is conferred, or for dustrial representatives. The trip to Ger- a brief (no more than 5 pages) curricu- work in progress which is also directed many will start with an overnight flight lum vitae for the nominee, and a clear toward chemistry in the public interest. from Boston around March 17th, with a and concise (no more than 2 pages) Nominations should be submitted return to Boston will be around March nomination letter that outlines the can- as a single pdf file including: 1) a letter 24th (travel dates are being determined). didate’s “conspicuous achievements in signed by the primary sponsor with a de- The highlight of the visit will be the JCF chemistry” on which the nomination is scription of the nominee’s work recog- Bremen student-run spring chemistry re- based should be submitted electronically nized as making a major contribution to search conference (Fruehjahrssympo- as a single PDF file to the NESACS Ad- the public welfare and as communicating sium) in Bremen, taking place Wednes- ministrative Secretary Anna Singer, sec- positive values of the chemical profes- day-Saturday, March 20th – March 23rd, [email protected]. sion, plus the names of two co-sponsors; which will provide the opportunity for Nominations must be received by 2) short supporting co-sponsor state- all delegates to engage in extensive net- October 31, 2018. The 2018 Richards ments; 3) the nominee’s professional bi- working with hundreds of German and Medal will be awarded on Thursday, ography including a list of no more than International students, to take part in dis- March 14, 2019. ten of the nominee’s publications se- cussions focused on research, careers, More information about the lected for their pertinence to the work education, and international opportuni- Richards Medal, including the list of all nominated for recognition; and 4) copies ties in chemistry and related fields. previous recipients, can be found at of popular and technical press news or The activities for the first part of the http://www.nesacs.org/awards_richards- feature articles indicative of public ben- week will include industrial, academic, medal.html. efit and interest. Further information is scientific, and cultural excursions in and available at www.nesacs.org. around Bremen. Each student represen- Nominations Are Due October 19, tative from NESACS will be expected The Gustavus John Esselen 2018 to [email protected] with to give a poster or oral presentation on Award for Chemistry in the cc to [email protected]. Award his/her research at the Fruehjahrssym- Public Interest recipients will be notified by February posium and in the Boston area at the The Northeastern Section of the Ameri- 1, 2019. Northeast Student Chemistry Research can Chemical Society (NESACS) is Inquiries may be directed to the Conference (NSCRC) in April 2019. Air inviting nominations for its prestigious above or to Dr. David Walt, Tel. (857) travel costs will be provided by NE- Gustavus John Esselen Award for 307-1112 or Jeananne Piper Grady, Tel. SACS, while the GDCh will cover Chemistry in the Public Interest. This (617) 620-8315. Address: 11 Thaxter St., ground transfers and accommodations award is given annually to a chemical Hingham, MA 02043. while we are in Germany. A working scientist, whose scientific and technical knowledge of German, while useful, work has contributed to the public well- NSYCC/NESACS-JCF/GDCh will not be required; the language of the being and has thereby communicated Fruehjahrssymposium and the other the positive values of the chemical pro- Exchange to Germany March events will be English. Application fession. The significance of this work 2019 forms will be available at the NESACS should have become apparent within the The German Exchange Steering Com- website (www.nesacs.org) on or about five years preceding nomination. The mittee and the Education Committee of September 15, 2018. When applying, awardee shall be a living resident of the the Northeastern Section of the Ameri- the following material must be submit- United States or Canada at the time of can Chemical Society (NESACS, ted electronically using the electronic the nomination. www.nesacs.org) invite applications application form: 1) the abstract of the from undergraduate and graduate stu- There is no limitation to the field of continued on page 14

8 The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 2018 A Medicinal Chemistry NESACS Symposium Election “The Future of Anti-infectives” Organized by the Medicinal Chemistry Section, Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society Results Sponsored by Takeda Oncology Chair (vote for 1) Thursday, September 13, 2018 Anna W. Sromek 153* Sofia Santos 84 Takeda Oncology 40 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 20139 Treasurer (vote for 1) Ashis K. Saha 224* For updated information please see the NESACS Website: www.nesacs.org Trustee (vote for 1) 3:00 pm Refreshments Peter C. Meltzer 227* 3:15 pm Welcome, Raj Rajur, Med Chem Program Chair, CreaGen, Inc., Councilor/Alternate Councilor Woburn, MA (5/5 elected) Katherine Lee 191c 3:20 pm Introductory Remarks (Moderator), Dan Elbaum, QurAlis, Catherine Costello 165c Cambridge, MA Ruth Tanner 155c 3:30 pm Kim Lewis, Northeastern University Andrew Scholte 154c “Reviving Antibiotic Discovery from Natural Products” June Lum 135c 4:15 pm Durand Reville, Entasis, Waltham, MA Morton Z. Hoffman 133a “The rational design and discovery of ETX2514, a novel Kenneth Mattes 122a broad-spectrum β-lactamase inhibitor for the treatment of Joshua Sacher 118a Gram-negative infections” Mariam Ismnail 112a Malika Jeffries-El 100a 5:00 pm Roger Clark, Macrolide, Watertown, MA Patrick Cappillino 100 “Novel Macrolides for Gram-Negative Infections” Raj (SB) Rajur 92 6:00 pm Social Hour Ashis Saha 82 Ajay Purohit 72 6:45 pm Dinner Hicham Fenniri 70 7:45 pm Keynote Presentation, Jacques Dumas, Tetraphase, Watertown, MA Daljit Matharu 25 “TP-6076: taking chemistry to the next level to beat superbug” Director-at-Large (vote for 2) YOU MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE TO ATTEND THE SYMPO- John M. Burke 149* SIUM: THERE IS NO REGISTRATION FEE TO ATTEND THE SYM- June Lum 139* POSIUM; DINNER RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. THE PUBLIC John L. Neumeyer 133 IS INVITED Nominating Committee (vote for 2) Michael P. Filosa 215* Dinner reservations should be made no later than noon, Thursday, September 6, Sonja Strah-Pleynet 204* 2018. Reservations are to be made using Eventbrite: https://future-anti-infec- tives-nesacs.eventbrite.com Members, $30; Non-members, $35; Retirees, $20; Norris Committee (vote for 2) Students, $10. Mark Tebbe 195* If you have any questions or require additional information, contact the Kuzhikalail Abraham 165* Vasiliki Lykourinou 69 Administrative Coordinator, Anna Singer, via email at secretary@ne- u sacs.org Total Votes submitted 256 Directions to Takeda: Use the following address for your GPS: 40 Landsdowne St, Cambridge, MA 02139 Visitor Parking: All visitors to Takeda Boston facilities in University Park should be directed to park at the 55 Franklin Street Garage; the Franklin Street Garage is the public parking garage and visitors will be charged for parking on u an hourly basis.

The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 9 SAVE THE DATE Chemical Biology

in the HUB October 22nd 2018 Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research 181 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA

Ben Cravatt Anne Carpenter Amanda Garner Sara Buhrlage Scripps Institute Broad Institute Univ. of Michigan Dana Farber

Jennifer Petter Ethan Perlstein Andy Phillips Jay Bradner ArrakisTherapeutics Perlara C4 Therapeutics Novartis

Tickets will go on sale Sept 4th To register visit nesacs.eventbrite.com or for more info www.nesacs.org

10 The Nucleus Summer/September 2018

SAVE THE THE DAT DATEE Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society Process Chemistry Symposium

Date Friday, October 19, 2018 Location Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research 250 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139

Confirmed Frances H. Arnold, California Institute of Technology Speakers Robert Knowles, Princeton University Eric Meggers, Philipps University Marburg Kami L. Hull, University of Texas, Austin Industrial Speakers TBD

• Save the date – October 19, 2018 - for a day-long symposium focused on process chemistry and featuring speakers from industry and academia. There will be opportunities to network with members of the local chemistry community during lunch and a late afternoon reception.

• Registration information TBD

• Questions? Please contact a member of the symposium organizing committee. o Matthew Beaver [email protected] o David Leahy [email protected] o Katherine Lee [email protected] o Matthew Maddess [email protected] o Erin O’Brien [email protected] o Scott Plummer [email protected] o Stefanie Roeper [email protected]

Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society

Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society

The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 11 2018 Esselen Award Photos Photos By Joel Laino

Andrew Scholte, NESACS Chair-Elect and Karen Allen, Esselen Commit- Jennifer Doudna, Michael Marletta, , and Rudolf Jaenisch catch up at the tee Chair with the 2018 Awardee, Dr. Jennifer Doudna and Jack Esselen cocktail hour. just after the award presentation.

Dr. Jennifer Doudna accepts the 2018 Gustavus John Esselen Head Table (l to r): Ryan Cross (National ACS, C&EN, Boston); Karl Hansen (im- Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest from Gustavus mediate past chair, Esselen Committee); Michael Marletta (Dr. Doudna’s Nominator, John (Jack) Esselen IV, grandson of the award’s namesake. 2007 Esselen Awardee); Karen Allen (Chair, Esselen Committee); Jennifer Doudna, 2018 Awardee; Andrew Scholte (Chair-elect, NESACS); Tom Allen (Guest of Karen Allen); Bibiano Campos Seijo (National ACS, C&EN Editor, Esselen Committee).

The Esselen Family, standing (l to r): Jane Esselen Blocker, Malcolm and Seated at the Committee Table (l to r): Irene Vouros, Paul Vouros, (past Nancy Bell, Dr. Katherine Esselen with her parents Catherine and Jack Committee Chair), Martin Idelson (past Committee Chair), Sivan Subbu- Esselen. Seated (l to r) Mrs. Joanna Hanson Stengle and Mr. Michael raju, Anna Sromek (past Committee Chair), and Juan Alejandre Hanson; Joan Esselen Foot and her husband Silas “Buck” Foot. The three siblings Jane, Jack & Joan and extended family continue to be ac- tively involved in supporting the award and the award dinner that their fa- photos continued on page 13 ther founded to honor his father.

12 The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 Esselen Photos Weinberg Lecture

Continued from page 12 Continued from page 6 those in the biomedical research and clinical care communities at large, help- ing to foster an environment for synergy u and originality in cancer research. Jabado Biography

Continued from page 7 Nature Genetics, Nature, Science and Cancer Cell, to name a few. She is an in- Donald Smith, Joshua Sacher, Doris Lewis, Bill Eykamp and Umair Javed enjoying the ternational leader in the field of neuro- Thomas Gilbert and Jens Brefke at the cocktail cocktail hour.; members of the Esselen family in oncology/cancer, honored by invitations hour. the background as s keynote speaker at top ranked sym- posia and universities. Dr. Jabado has received numerous national and interna- tional honors while garnering presti- gious salary support awards throughout her career. She is one of the best-funded investigators in Canada, with grants from CIHR, Genome Canada, NIH as well as philanthropic organizations. She was recently inducted as a Fellow to the Better Leads, Better Drugs - Innovation in Royal Society of Canada, a member of Screening Libraries the CIHR Governing Council and a member of the Canadian Academy of th u May 8-9 2019 Health Sciences. Joseph B. Martin Conference Centre Harvard Medical School Jabado Abstract Event Synopsis Continued from page 7 bral hemispheres. Each H3 variant has The Academic Drug Discovery Consortium invites you to hear about the lat- selective, age, and spatial clustering of est ideas in small-molecule library development at, “Better Leads, Better associated molecular alterations, includ- Drugs: Innovations in Screening Libraries.” ing mutations in the chromatin remod- Scientists engaged in drug discovery and chemical biology know that a eller ATRX. We will present our recent screen is only as good as the molecules that go into it. But with the vast po- findings which indicate that these muta- tential chemical space, how do you decide what to include in your virtual, tions stall differentiation and block the high-throughput, or fragment-based screens? This event will bring together cell in an undifferentiated state. This drug-seekers from academia and industry focused on the application of new “Peter Pan” effect (as we named it) will technologies and computational tools to tackle this question in order to de- be discussed as well as how it impacts liver higher quality leads. the epigenome to promote tumorigene- This 1.5-day meeting will create a dynamic, interactive environment for sis with the obligate associated genetic presentations and discussion, and also includes a ½-day networking session alterations we identified in HGG. We for one on one partnering meetings between participants. will show oncohistones in other non-pe- diatric cancers and reveal how efforts to Exhibition and sponsorship model these mutations in isogenic tu- An exhibition will take place alongside the conference during refreshment mour systems, mouse, or fly models are breaks for companies and related organizations who may wish to exhibit. For helping identify exquisite therapeutic further information and prices, please email: vulnerabilities. Oncohistones promote [email protected] an aberrant epigenetic landscape that www.addconsortium.org can be manipulated to the advantage of *The Academic Drug Discovery Consortium is not affiliated with Harvard patients and our efforts to dissect the University, nor is Academic Drug Discovery Consortium a Harvard Univer- epigenome in these tumours may pro- sity program or activity. vide viable therapeutic strategies in un- u treatable deadly diseases.

The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 13 A Retrospective my second year, when I really, seriously, Call for Nominations considered it? Because of the fun. Train- Continued from page 4 Continued from page 8 ing and working with students in the zbroader chemistry community, I was laboratory, discovering new chemistry presentation to be made at the Frueh- also parenting three high-energy chil- and phenomena that nobody had ever jahrssymposium and the NSCRC; 2) an dren. The oldest, born in 2009 during seen before, turning a “wouldn’t it be essay on the relevance of the exchange my postdoctoral fellowship at MIT, was nice if we could…” to “here is how we to your professional goals; 3) A letter of a precocious, hyperverbal, and hyperac- can do it” – all of that combined to make recommendation from your faculty re- tive toddler, then preschooler, and then scientific research the most rewarding search supervisor that supports your ap- elementary schooler, who over the pursuit I have ever undertaken. plication. In addition, your faculty course of his life has required non-trivial The teaching was fun, too, maybe research advisor must certify that you attention to address a variety of devel- because I just enjoyed hearing the sound are currently engaged in original re- opmental issues. The middle one, born of my own voice, but possibly also be- search under her/his supervision, and during my second year as an Assistant cause of the joy of successfully commu- that s/he gives you permission to be ab- Professor, was an eczema-prone and nicating challenging topics to a student sent from the research laboratory for the highly allergic infant, who turned into an audience in a way that they understood. period March 25, 2019; 4) approval adorable toddler and preschooler, once I am a chemistry professor because of in- from your supervisor and the chair of the allergy issues were at least some- spiration from my undergraduate organic your department for your absence from what addressed. Being responsible for chemistry professor and the excitement classes, the research laboratory, and these two children during my second he demonstrated for science. Maybe one other related responsibilities. year as an Assistant Professor nearly of these students would become a chem- Members of the German Exchange caused me to quit my job, as I took a few istry professor because of me. Steering Committee will interview pro- weeks of vacation to evaluate whether I The science outreach component of gram finalists. Prospective applicants wanted to continue in academia. When service was similarly outstanding, as the who may be planning on attending the the two weeks were up, I was in my participant thank-you notes underscored 2019 Spring ACS National Meeting and Chair’s office with my decision. I needed how much of an impact our efforts were Exposition in Orlando should note that the job, to stay engaged, to pursue re- really having. “Thank you for all you the ACS meeting will take place the search, to understand and learn more have done for XX,” began one note week following the trip to Bremen, about science as often as I could. Staying from a parent of someone who partici- which may make it difficult for you to home with my young children wasn’t a pated in chemistry camp, our free, attend the ACS meeting. long-term option for me. I returned. week-long outreach program for middle Before you apply, please be aware And then there was the third child, school girls throughout Rhode Island. “I of this. Applications are being accepted born in September 2014 during my last wanted you to know that she talks about from students at colleges and universi- year before I submitted my tenure appli- you non-stop and wants to grow up to ties within the NESACS geographic cation. That child was the product of a be a scientist like you. Thank you for area, which comprises all of New dizzyingly complicated pregnancy, born showing her that girls can do every- Hampshire and the following counties together with her stillborn twin brother thing.” “Do everything?” I questioned to in eastern Massachusetts: Barnstable, who suffered from a rare but fatal ge- myself. I am not sure of that, but at least Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Middlesex, Nan- netic defect. She was perfectly healthy, we can try. tucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk. my baby girl, despite the complicated This is why I love my job, all of Students interested in learning more pregnancy, despite being born via emer- these reasons all at once, even with all about the German Exchange Pro-gram gency C-section at 35.5 weeks pregnant the stresses that come with it as well. should attend the September and/or Oc- after I went into spontaneous, precipi- This is why when, even when my favor- tober meetings of NESACS. There will tous labor. I was home with her for 7 able tenure decision came with no re- be representatives from the Steering weeks before I returned, although I did duction in workload and on the contrary, Committee at each meeting to answer not resume teaching until the following with a non-trivial workload increase, I your questions. To register for monthly spring semester. Was it hard to be back was OK. More than OK, I now enjoy the meetings, please visit http://acssympo- at work? Sure, but it was certainly less job more than ever, especially at this sium.com/paypal.html. For more infor- hard than being home with a single in- moment, when I write this article from mation about the program or the fant when there should have been two. my sabbatical appointment in Israel application process, send an email to So that’s why being an Assistant more than 5000 miles away. This is why [email protected], and a member of the Professor was stressful and tiring, and I couldn’t walk away in 2012 to become German Exchange Steering Committee why even the act of recounting that time a stay-at-home parent and take care of will answer your question. Deadline for period for this article has made me ex- an infant and toddler, and why I am electronic receipt of applications: Thurs- u u hausted by proxy. Why did I keep doing grateful every day that I am still here. day, November 1, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. it though? Why couldn’t I walk away in

14 The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 BUSINESS DIRECTORY SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES

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The Nucleus Summer/September 2018 15 Join u NESACS on facebook www.facebook.com/nesacs September 20 Organic of (Institute Gryko Daniel Prof. Sciences) of Academy Polish Chemistry, pm 4:00 6-120, MIT, (Harvard) Zhuang Xiaowei Prof. pm 4:00 130, Merkert College, Boston September 28 State) (Utah Sun Yujie Prof. pm 4:00 130, Merkert College, Boston Notices for The Nucleus Calendar of Seminars should be sent to: email: Filosa, Michael [email protected] September 18 (Stanford) Burns Noah Prof. pm 4:00 130, Merkert College, Boston September 11 (Princeton) Chirik Paul Prof. Series Seminar LaMattina am 11:10 N104, Parsons Hampshire, New U. September 12 University) (Technion Maayan Galia Prof. pm 4:15 4-370, MIT, September 13 (Brown) Stratt Richard Prof. pm 4:00 130, Merkert College, Boston September 4 (Wisconsin-Madison) Boydston J. Andrew Prof am 11:10 N104, Parsons Hampshire, New U. September 6 and Zurich) (ETH Wennemers Helma Prof. (Boehringer-Ingelheim) Reeves Jonathan Organic in Lecture Boehringer-Ingelheim Chemistry pm 4:00 6-120 MIT, University) (Boston Cui Qiang Prof. pm 4:00 130, Merkert College, Boston

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eminars.html istry/events/index.html ming events-2/ ts/seminarSeries/index.asp minars-and-Colloquia.aspx ts/chemistry-biochemistry pages for travel directions and updates. and directions travel for pages include: These http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/chemistry/s http://www.bu.edu/chemistry/seminars/ Note also the Chemistry Department web Department Chemistry the also Note http://www.brandeis.edu/departments/chem Check the NESACS home page for late Calendar additions: http://www.NESACS.org Calendar http://chemistry.harvard.edu/calendar/upco http://www.northeastern.edu/cos/chemistry/ http://chemistry.mit.edu/events/all http://chem.tufts.edu/seminars.html http://engineering.tufts.edu/chbe/newsEven http://www.chem.umb.edu http://www.umassd.edu/cas/chemistry/ http://www.uml.edu/Sciences/chemistry/Se http://www.unh.edu/chemistry/events https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departmen