Structural Biology Program

The Christopher Lima Lab

Research

Christopher Lima
Christopher D. Lima, PhD
Member and Chair, Structural Biology Program, SKI; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Alfred P. Sloan Chair

Professor

We are a research laboratory that studies fundamental structural, biochemical, and functional attributes for macromolecules involved in post-translational protein modification by ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins such as SUMO, and pathways that contribute to co- and post-transcriptional RNA maturation, processing and decay. We pursue biochemical approaches to reconstitute key intermediates or complexes in these pathways and combine them with single particle cryo-EM and x-ray crystallography in conjunction with genetics and biochemistry to elucidate structure/activity relationships.

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Research Projects

Publications Highlights

People

Christopher Lima

Christopher D. Lima, PhD

Member and Chair, Structural Biology Program, SKI; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Alfred P. Sloan Chair

Professor

  • The Lima laboratory studies mechanisms underlying RNA processing as well as post-translational protein modification by ubiquitin-like proteins.
  • PhD, Northwestern University
[email protected]
Email Address
212-639-8205
Office Phone

Members

Vladimir Baytshtok

Research Fellow

Yu-Hui (Vivian) Chiu

Graduate Student

Mom Das

Senior Research Scientist

Michael Fishman
Michael Fishman

Graduate Student

Anatasia Gangadin

Assistant to the Chair

Tomasz Kochanczyk
Tomasz Kochanczyk

Research Fellow

Abigail Lemmon

Graduate Student

Jiacheng 'Coco' Liu
Jiacheng 'Coco' Liu

Graduate Student

Ella M.M. Nguyen
Ella M. M. Nguyen

Graduate Student

Ha An Nguyen

Research Fellow

Mi Seul Park
Mi Seul Park

Research Fellow

Joshua Peter

Research Fellow

Lucas Repeta
Lucas Repeta

Graduate Student

Christopher D. Lima

Member; Chair, Structural Biology Program, SKI

Nancy Arango
Nancy Arango

Senior Research Technician

Lab Alumni
Miklos Bekes

Visiting Research Fellow

Laurent Cappadocia, PhD
Laurent Cappadocia

Research Fellow

Michael DiMattia
Michael DiMattia

Research Fellow

Zachary Hann

Graduate Student

Hye-In Lee
Hye-In Lee

Graduate Student (BCMB)

Xavier Mascle

Research Fellow

Marc Rhyan Anthony Puno, PhD
Marc Rhyan Anthony Puno

Senior Research Scientist

Eli Sobel

Research Technician

Elizabeth V. Wasmuth

Graduate Student

Dimitrios Zattas
Dimitrios Zattas

Research Fellow

John Zinder

Graduate Student

Veronica Solorzano

Research Technician

Selom Doamekpor

Graduate Student and Research Fellow

Payam Hakimian

Research Technician

Kurt Januszyk

Research Fellow

Vincent Shen

Research Technician

Elena Mossessova

Graduate Student

Victor Bernier-Villamor

Research Fellow

Julien Henri

Research Fellow

John Buglino

Research Technician

Frederick C. Streich

Research Fellow

Carme Fabrega

Research Fellow

Ryan Kniewel

Research Technician

Shaun Olsen

Research Fellow

Anthony A Armstrong

Research Fellow

Agni Ghosh

Research Fellow

Kie Lee

Research Technician

Jaclyn Gareau

Graduate Student

K.R. Rajashankar

Senior Research Scientist

Luisa Maria Lois

Research Fellow

Meigang Gu

Graduate Student

David Reverter

Research Fellow

Jayakrishnan Nandakumar

Graduate Student

Allan D. Capili

Research Fellow

Quansheng Liu

Research Fellow

Ali A. Yunus

Graduate Student

Firaz Mohideen

Graduate Student

Jaclyn C. Greimann

Graduate Student

Lab Affiliations

Achievements

  • Member, National Academy of Sciences (2020)
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2017)
  • Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2013)
  • Louise and Allston Boyer Young Investigator in Basic Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2006)
  • Scholar, Rita Allen Foundation (2003-2006)
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  • Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and New York Academy of Sciences (2003)
  • Young Investigator Award, Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation (1999-2002)

Lab News & Events

MSK researchers shed new light on the ubiquitin pathway using cryo-electron microscopy

Open Positions

To learn more about available postdoctoral opportunities, please visit our Career Center

To learn more about compensation and benefits for postdoctoral researchers at MSK, please visit Resources for Postdocs

Career Opportunities

Applicants who are interested in working on mechanisms involved in post-translational protein modification or RNA capping and decay processes are always encouraged to apply for Postdoctoral Fellow positions in the lab.

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Disclosures

Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.

MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.

Christopher D. Lima discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Biogen Idec
    Equity
  • Cornell Research Foundation
    Intellectual Property Rights
  • GE Healthcare
    Equity
  • General Electric
    Equity
  • Reina Bio, Inc.
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Vertex Pharmaceuticals
    Equity

The information published here is a complement to other publicly reported data and is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.


This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2023 through disclosure submission in spring 2024). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.

Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].


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