Dr. Jon Clardy

Biography

Jon Clardy is the Christopher T. Walsh Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard University. His lab focuses on biologically active small molecules, particularly those produced by bacteria and fungi, with the overarching goal of understanding how these molecules control biological processes. His research is organized around three main themes: the discovery of microbially-produced small molecules and their roles in microbial symbioses, the use of function-based discovery and high-throughput screening to identify biologically active small molecules, and the genome-based discovery of bacterially produced small molecules. Current projects include studying the interactions between bacterial symbionts and fungus-growing ants, as well as exploring links between human gut microbiomes and disease. His laboratory also aims to identify small molecules that are medically relevant, targeting a variety of diseases by discovering antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic agents, and immunomodulators. With a focus on understanding the biosynthetic genes associated with these molecules, Clardy's laboratory is actively working on accessing cryptic metabolites that have potential therapeutic applications.

Research Interests

Experience