Genentech: Jim Kiefer | Principal Scientist and Associate Director, Structural Biology

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Scientists / Our Scientists

"Cancer and autoimmune diseases are prevalent among my family and friends. I am here, because I would like to fight back."

Years at Genentech

Publications

My path to Genentech began in the Midwest, working at Searle, Pharmacia, and Pfizer for 12 years, in structure based drug design. Looking from the outside in, I had always been struck by how Genentech was consistently leading, rather than following, in the discovery of new medicines. I have been even more impressed by the culture and innovation here since joining in 2012.

I am structural biologist, but I think of myself as a “molecular photographer.” We determine the shapes of proteins bound to chemicals on the path to potentially becoming drugs and try to improve that interaction. The technique has broad applications from traditional, “small molecule” drugs to protein therapeutics. My primary interests involve pathways triggering cancer and inflammation.

SUMMARY OF PUBLICATIONS (PDF)

Featured Publication

A minor structural change to tertiary sulfonamide RORc ligands led to agonist and inverse agonist mechanisms of action.

ACS Med Chem Lett 6(3):276-281, 2015.

René O, Fauber BP, de Leon Boenig G, Burton B, Eidenschenk C, Everett C, Gobbi A, Hymowitz SG, Johnson AR, Kiefer JR, Liimatta M, Lockey P, Norman M, Ouyang W, Wallweber HA, Wong H.

View Abstract

My role at Genentech has encompassed three different facets. I have been the project leader for a target in the small molecule inflammation portfolio; I provide structures and analysis of them to teams, and I manage one arm of the Structural Biology Department. One of the aspects that I enjoy most about my position at Genentech is the diversity of experiences in my work each week.

I have primarily worked in areas relating to cancer and immunology and was part of the Joint Project Team in Genentech’s and Constellation Pharmaceuticals’ collaboration on Epigenetics research. I have a long-term interest in DNA replication and repair and gene regulation.

Water molecules in protein–ligand interfaces. Evaluation of software tools and SAR comparison

Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design, ISSN: 15734951 0920654X

Eva Nittinger; Paul Gibbons; Charles Eigenbrot; Douglas R. Davies; Brigitte Maurer; Christine Yu; James Kiefer; Andreas Kuglstatter; Jeremy Murray; Dan Ortwine; Yong Tang; Vickie Tsui

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Jim Kiefer

Principal Scientist and Associate Director, Structural Biology

Featured Publication

A minor structural change to tertiary sulfonamide RORc ligands led to agonist and inverse agonist mechanisms of action.