Stephen L. White, PhD

Acting Branch Chief

Drug Synthesis and Chemistry Branch

Dr. Stephen L. White currently serves as the Acting Branch Chief of the Drug Synthesis & Chemistry Branch (DSCB), Developmental Therapeutics Program (DTP) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Dr. White joined the NCI in 2007. During his tenure, he has been tasked with various multi-functional leadership responsibilities within the Branch that have primarily focused on management of the NCI Chemotherapeutics Agents Repository (NCI-CAR). NCI/DTP's vast catalog of agents/drugs in the Open Chemicals Repository are made available to the domestic and international research community with the aim of enabling early-stage exploratory cancer research (primarily), and other areas of therapeutic need. This unique resource has facilitated a myriad of research endeavors globally. Dr. White has been responsible for providing overall leadership and strategic direction of the NCI-CAR contract staff. He has also been a key contributor to the acquisition of hundreds of novel small molecule investigational oncology agents to support various intramural and special research initiatives at the NCI.

Dr. White earned his Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry at the University of California, Riverside in 2001 under the direction of Professor Steven R. Angle, where he investigated methodology studies that centered principally on an efficient 1,1-carbon dipole-based annulation strategy to stereoselectively yield highly substituted tetrahydrofurans. The products of these reactions can occur in compounds having interesting and important biological properties. Subsequently, he accepted an opportunity to join the biotech sector where he served as a medicinal chemist for six years. First, at FibroGen, Inc. where he was involved in early-stage exploratory investigation of small molecule antifibrotic therapies that target Procollagen C-proteinase (PCP). Following his tenure at FibroGen, Dr. White joined ICOS Corp. (acquired by Eli Lilly in 2007) where he worked with a talented team to extensively probe the space of novel PI3K-delta inhibitors for the treatment of conditions such as hematopoietic cancers, immune disorders, and bone resorption disorders.

As the Acting Branch Chief, Dr. White is responsible for leading an exceptional group of synthetic organic/medicinal chemists that have distinguished records of achievement. DSCB chemists play a critical role as members of multiple cross-functional teams of scientists and are entrusted with providing both technical expertise, and administrative excellence in support of the DCTD mission to accelerate the development of novel anticancer therapies.