Chemical Biology Seminar: Professor Fleur Ferguson, University of California, San Diego
About the Seminar
"Interrogating the Druggable Proteome with Proximity Pharmacology"
The human proteome contains over 20,000 proteins, yet traditional small molecule drugs target fewer than 3,000, leaving vast therapeutic potential unexplored. Induced proximity approaches, including bifunctional degraders, molecular glues, and other proximity-inducing molecules, represent a paradigm shift that expands the druggable proteome by leveraging cellular machinery rather than requiring direct target inhibition. However, systematic methods to identify and optimize new and existing proximity-inducing compounds remain limited. To address these challenges, we have developed complementary chemical biology platforms to systematically interrogate and expand the druggable proteome through induced proximity. In this talk, I showcase these platforms and their application to develop first-in-class degraders, and molecular glues for “difficult to drug” targets.
About the Speaker
Assistant Professor Fleur Ferguson leads a research group in UC San Diego's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences developing next-generation proximity-pharmacology technology platforms. Her laboratory integrates chemical synthesis, mass spectrometry, and cell biology to create therapeutic strategies for diseases where conventional approaches have failed. Ferguson received her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, advised by Professors Chris Abell and Alessio Ciulli, and completed postdoctoral research with Professor Nathanael Gray at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her innovative work in chemical biology has been recognized with major awards including the NIH Director's New Innovator Award, NSF CAREER, International Chemical Biology Society Young Chemical Biologist Award, Pew Biomedical Research Scholar Award, and early career honors from multiple foundations.
Host: Laura Dassama
This seminar is supported by the William S. Johnson endowment honoring this esteemed chemist, who made significant contributions in the areas of synthetic and bioorganic chemistry.