Cris Lewis Director: Biochemical Pharmacology Profile | Education/Background | Top Scientific Papers | Awards & Honors

"I joined Genentech in January 2006 to head up the Biochemical Pharmacology group in the Small Molecules Division. Our group is responsible for all the biochemical and cellular assays that provide quantitative structure-activity relationship data to guide Medicinal Chemistry efforts. We work together with the Early Leads group to design robust biochemical assays for high-throughput screening, conduct full HTS campaigns with detailed characterization of hits, and provide mechanism of action and selectivity data. We also develop and execute the cellular SAR assays, and contribute as project team members or project leaders all the way into the clinic.

I was attracted to Genentech because I could see that it is an organization that puts great value in high-quality science. More importantly, the strategic decision-making at Genentech is data-driven with a laser focus on the science. The Small Molecule effort is an exciting place to be right now, where we are focused on starting new projects, hiring the very best people, and building a world-class drug discovery organization. Morale is high, fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit and rich scientific discussions."

Current Projects "Our scientists are working on multiple targets in cancer and immunology, from the early stages of protein expression to Clinical trials. We collaborate with Pathway Biologists to characterize targets, develop the most informative cellular assays, and contribute to selection of the best clinical candidate for the therapeutic indication. We work side-by-side with Early Leads Biology and Chemistry in high-throughput screening and hit-to-lead efforts. We collaborate with Structural Biologists in implementation of a structure-based drug design platform for Medicinal Chemistry, and collaborate with DMPK and Pharmaceutical Sciences representatives as the project nears selection of a candidate. There is an excellent bridge between Discovery and our Clinical Sciences group, which is a source of many fruitful discussions about disease states and clinical trial design.

I have the opportunity at the moment to serve as a project leader on a Late-Stage Oncology project that has a molecule in clinical trials, while also serving as a team member on early stage Oncology projects as well. I thoroughly enjoy delving deep into the multi-disciplinary scientific aspects of a project, with the goal of delivering the best drug to patients. Shortly after arriving here, I started up a Project Leader Forum, which offers the Small Molecule Project leaders an opportunity to get together regularly to share knowledge and help build the infrastructure. A good part of my efforts have been devoted to hiring the very best people for our group, and the Small Molecules group. I'm excited by some of the tremendous talent we have attracted to our organization."

Collaborations "In addition to the productive collaborations we have on our multi-disciplinary project teams, we also have the opportunity to work closely with excellent Clinical scientists, even on the earlier stages of a project. I believe this provides a tremendous learning opportunity that is unrivaled at many traditional pharmaceutical companies. In addition, we collaborate with many drug discovery partners across the world, from small biotechs to strategic partnerships with more established institutions. As a result, scientists who join the small molecule effort have an immense opportunity for broad-based collaboration and learning - not only about the biology of the pathways and targets, but also about different perspectives of drug discovery."

Inspiration/Vision "I'm very committed to doing my utmost to build a world-class Biochemistry and Small Molecule Drug Discovery group. I am inspired by the entrepreneurial environment of the Small Molecule effort, as well as the prospect of bringing high-quality science to bear on the discovery of drugs for life-threatening unmet medical needs."