The Chanda Lab

      Lars Pache, Ph.D. 

      Res. Asst. Prof., Sanford Burnham

Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) 

Lars received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Virology from the Freie Universität Berlin. He conducted his postdoctoral training with Dr. Chanda at SBP, where he identified a novel class of drugs that reverse HIV latency. As a Research Assistant Professor at SBP, Lars leverages multi-omics to identify novel drug targets and investigate mechanisms that control viral replication. He is also interested in developing strategies for the management of large datasets and has contributed to the development of the popular Metascape bioinformatics tool. Outside the lab, Lars is an avid sailor and enjoys outdoor sports.

      Sunnie M. Yoh, Ph.D. 

     Institute Investigator, Scripps 

Sunnie received her Ph.D. in Microbiology from UC Davis. Sunnie’s scientific career has been dedicated to studying disease mechanisms at the molecular level. During her post doctoral training at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, she investigated epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Since joining the Chanda Lab she has focused on innate immune pathways in autoimmunity, cancer and viral infections. She has made several high-profile discoveries about innate immune sensing and her current research focuses on the role of innate immune sensing in neurodegeneration. In her free time, Sunnie enjoys cooking and walking

            Nisar Farhat, Ph.D

        Principal Scientist, Scripps - Calibr     

Nisar is a dedicated scientist with a Ph.D. in Molecular and Medical Pharmacology from the University of California, Los Angeles, where his research under Dr. Ting-Ting Wu explored the molecular mechanisms of viral immunomodulation, contributing to therapeutic and vaccine developments for gammaherpesviruses. At Bioniz Therapeutics, Nisar developed multifunctional biologics for autoimmune disorders and cancer immunotherapy. At Vir Biotechnology, he designed high-throughput screens for antiviral therapies, and at Equillium, he advanced bi-specific cytokine immunomodulators, improved cytokine drug properties, and engineered oral cytokine mimetics. Nisar thrives in collaborative environments, working with cross-disciplinary teams to advance innovative therapeutic solutions. Passionate about fostering a culture of integrity, collaboration, and continuous learning, he is committed to tackling complex scientific challenges with creativity and diligence.  In his spare time, Nisar enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, baking, and secretly planting fig trees around the San Diego area.