Micha Rape
Michael Rapé received his PhD at the Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany, before he joined Marc Kirschner’s lab at Harvard Medical School for his postdoctoral studies. In 2006, Michael joined the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California at Berkeley, where he is currently Head of the Division of Molecular Therapeutics and the Dr. K. Peter Hirth Chair of Cancer Biology. Michael is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Michael’s lab uncovers molecular mechanisms of cell fate determination, using posttranslational modification with ubiquitin as their starting point. This work revealed new ubiquitin chain types, essential ubiquitylation enzymes and substrates, as well as mechanisms of ubiquitylation that are essential for human development and disease. His work has been recognized with a Pew Scholar’s Award, the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise, the National Blavatnik Award, and an NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. Michael has recently been elected as foreign member of EMBO.
His work led to the first prospective development of a molecular glues targeting E3 ligases, which helped in opening up the ubiquitin system for drug discovery. To advance ubiquitin-focused approaches in drug discovery, Michael co-founded Nurix Therapeutics, Zenith Therapeutics, and Lyterian Therapeutics. Michael is also an iPartner at The Column Group Ventures.
Abstracts this author is presenting: