Read about Geoffrey Chang, Ph.D., in the September 2001 issue.
Scripps Research Institute
La Jolla, CA
Geoffrey Chang has the heart of an artist and the hands of a scientist. A classically trained musician, he is engaged in a research field that many consider an art form: X-ray crystallography.
He seeks to determine the detailed, 3D structures of proteins that pump medicines out of cells, rendering the drugs ineffective. These structures, which Chang views as works of beauty, could enable scientists to block the proteins, restoring the power of medicines to treat diseases ranging from tuberculosis and cholera to cancer.