Chad Johnston, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Departments of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), where he is also a member of the Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research. A native of Ontario, Canada, Dr. Johnston completed his doctoral training in chemical biology at McMaster University in 2016, followed by postdoctoral training in synthetic biology with Prof. James Collins at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2021.  Dr. Johnston was recruited to BCM in fall 2021 through a CPRIT First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Members award, which provided unparalleled opportunities for this ambitious research. He opened his lab at BCM in spring 2022.

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Chad Johnston, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Departments of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), where he is also a member of the Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research. A native of Ontario, Canada, Dr. Johnston completed his doctoral training in chemical biology at McMaster University in 2016, followed by postdoctoral training in synthetic biology with Prof. James Collins at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2021.  Dr. Johnston was recruited to BCM in fall 2021 through a CPRIT First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Members award, which provided unparalleled opportunities for this ambitious research. He opened his lab at BCM in spring 2022.

Dr. Johnston's laboratory works on the discovery, study, and directed evolution of bioactive small molecules known as microbial natural products, which have historically formed the basis of our antibiotic arsenal. His research is focused on taxa-specific precision antibiotics that could be used to selectively eliminate oncogenic or pathogenic bacteria, both to prevent disease and improve existing treatments. To achieve these goals, his laboratory uses both chemical biology and synthetic biology methods, including a powerful directed evolution technique known as phage-assisted continuous evolution. By identifying new selective antibiotics and uncovering how those molecules operate, the Johnston lab aims to apply directed evolution and chemical synthesis to create designer compounds with engineered specificities. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop small molecules that could be used to edit and interrogate microbiomes, uncovering new means of treating chronic and infectious disease. CPRIT funds have enabled Dr. Johnston to build out a state-of-the-art laboratory, including a full suite of equipment for the chemical biology and synthetic biology arms of his research. One year on, these funds support national and international trainees at all levels, serving to develop a new generation of interdisciplinary scientists.

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