University of California-Los Angeles · BiochemistryBackus Lab
Keriann Marie Backus · Los Angeles, California
Research Focus
Dr. Keriann Marie Backus leads a research lab at UCLA focused on developing advanced techniques to discover new cancer drug targets. Her work emphasizes the use of chemoproteomics, a method that utilizes mass spectrometry to identify proteins that can be targeted by cysteine-reactive drugs. By improving screening methods and enhancing the detection of functionally relevant cysteines, her lab aims to facilitate the discovery of powerful new therapeutics for precision cancer treatment.
chemoproteomicsprecision cancer therapytherapeutic target discoverycysteine-reactive drugsmass spectrometry
Research Aims
5AIM 01Develop improved sample preparation methods for high throughput screening.
AIM 02Identify new functional cysteine targets in proteins.
AIM 03Enhance proteomic platforms for better detection of drug targets.
AIM 04Optimize multiplexing capabilities for chemoproteomic studies.
AIM 05Increase efficiency in converting initial hits to potential therapeutic leads.
Skills the Lab Values
mass spectrometryhigh throughput screeningprotein thermal stability analysiscysteine modificationproteomic data analysis
Output against the department
Publications79bottom 16% of dept.336th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.9kbottom 21% of dept.317th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.