Research
The vision of the VLBS is threefold:
(1) Enabling precision natural product therapeutics for cancer. We develop and apply single-cell chemical biology approaches to uncover how bioactive molecules function in complex cellular environments and to guide their development into precision therapies.
(2) Discovering new therapeutic mechanisms and molecular insights in human cells. Using chemical biology tools, we probe cellular systems to reveal previously unrecognized mechanisms of action, regulatory pathways, and vulnerabilities that can be leveraged for therapeutic intervention.
(3) Redefining how complex bioactive molecules are discovered and constructed. By uncovering the biosynthetic and evolutionary logic of natural product pathways, we generate new molecules and establish sustainable, biology-driven strategies for building compounds that extend beyond those found in nature.Our work integrates chemical synthesis, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, and microbiology to understand and harness the chemistry of living systems.
Discover how our current projects translate these ideas into new chemistry and new therapeutics
Principal Investigator
Brian Bachmann is Stevenson Professor of Chemistry at the Vanderbilt University. He earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Virginia Tech, M.S. from Southern Methodist University, and Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University.
Group Members
The VLBS, directed by Brian Bachmann, is an interdisciplinary group of researchers with diverse backgrounds in chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Researchers from the VLBS have generated foundational advances in natural product biosynthesis, synthetic biology and discovery.
Contact Us
Looking for more information? The Laboratory for Biosynthetic Studies is always on the lookout for new co-workers. Check out the instructions for applying for a position.