Structural Biology Program
The Christopher Lima Lab
Research
![Christopher Lima](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/2274/main_image/msk_lima_cropped.jpg?h=ea0784eb)
We are a research laboratory that studies fundamental structural, biochemical, and functional attributes for macromolecules involved in post-translational protein modification by ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins such as SUMO, and pathways that contribute to co- and post-transcriptional RNA maturation, processing and decay. We pursue biochemical approaches to reconstitute key intermediates or complexes in these pathways and combine them with single particle cryo-EM and x-ray crystallography in conjunction with genetics and biochemistry to elucidate structure/activity relationships.
Research Projects
Featured News
![Side-by-side headshots of scientists Christopher Lima and Rhyan Puno](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200/public/node/246856/main_image/limapuno_1200x800.jpg)
![Memorial Sloan Kettering structural biologist Christopher Lima and physician-scientist Michael Glickman](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200/public/node/209215/main_image/msk_200917_0008-1200x400.jpg)
![Scott Keeney, PhD & Christopher Lima, PhD](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200/public/node/195322/main_image/04apr28_keeneylima_1200x800.jpg)
Publications Highlights
People
![Christopher Lima](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/2274/main_image/msk_lima_cropped.jpg?h=ea0784eb)
Christopher D. Lima, PhD
Member and Chair, Structural Biology Program, SKI; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Alfred P. Sloan Chair
- The Lima laboratory studies mechanisms underlying RNA processing as well as post-translational protein modification by ubiquitin-like proteins.
- PhD, Northwestern University
- [email protected]
- Email Address
- 212-639-8205
- Office Phone
Members
![Michael Fishman](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/154867/3x2/fishman-michael_180508_09_1200x800.jpg)
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/231928/main_image/abigail-lemmon.jpg)
![Ella M.M. Nguyen](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/161104/3x2/melnik-ella_190911_05_1200x800-1.jpg?h=10d202d3)
- BS, Pacific Union College
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/276796/main_image/joshua-peter.jpg)
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/2396/3x2/lima_christopher_2_3x2.jpg)
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/154870/3x2/vladheadshot_3x2.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Research Fellow
Graduate Student
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/34523/3x2/momdas_headshot_3x2.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Senior Research Scientist
![Michael Fishman](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/154867/3x2/fishman-michael_180508_09_1200x800.jpg)
Graduate Student
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/235996/main_image/13.jpg?h=3dbd9eac)
Assistant to the Chair
![Tomasz Kochanczyk](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/165439/3x2/kochanczyk-tomasz_181012_21verb_1200x800.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Research Fellow
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/231928/main_image/abigail-lemmon.jpg)
Graduate Student
![Jiacheng 'Coco' Liu](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/208771/main_image/jiacheng-liu-002.jpg)
Graduate Student
![Ella M.M. Nguyen](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/161104/3x2/melnik-ella_190911_05_1200x800-1.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Graduate Student
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/242122/main_image/nguyen-haan-220325-004_1200x800.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Research Fellow
![Mi Seul Park](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/191644/main_image/park-mi-seul_200316_13_1200x800.jpg)
Research Fellow
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/276796/main_image/joshua-peter.jpg)
Research Fellow
![Lucas Repeta](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/180259/3x2/lucas-repeta-headshot.png)
Graduate Student
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/2396/3x2/lima_christopher_2_3x2.jpg)
Member; Chair, Structural Biology Program, SKI
![Nancy Arango](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/2996/3x2/arango-nancy_180508_06_1200x800.jpg)
Senior Research Technician
Lab Alumni
Visiting Research Fellow
![Laurent Cappadocia, PhD](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/34520/3x2/cappadocia-laurent_180508_04_1200x800.jpg)
Research Fellow
![Michael DiMattia](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/37092/3x2/dimattia-michael_180508_04_1200x800.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Research Fellow
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/34518/3x2/zac_hann_0_3x2.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Graduate Student
![Hye-In Lee](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/126988/3x2/lee-hye-in_180508_02_1200x800.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Graduate Student (BCMB)
Research Fellow
![Marc Rhyan Anthony Puno, PhD](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/34521/3x2/puno-marc-rhyan-anthony_180508_03_1200x800.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Senior Research Scientist
![](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/231931/main_image/eli.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Research Technician
Graduate Student
![Dimitrios Zattas](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_200_1x1/public/node/37091/3x2/zattas-dimitrios_180508_02_1200x800.jpg)
Research Fellow
Graduate Student
Research Technician
Graduate Student and Research Fellow
Research Technician
Research Fellow
Research Technician
Graduate Student
Research Fellow
Research Fellow
Research Technician
Research Fellow
Research Fellow
Research Technician
Research Fellow
Research Fellow
Research Fellow
Research Technician
Graduate Student
Senior Research Scientist
Research Fellow
Graduate Student
Research Fellow
Graduate Student
Research Fellow
Research Fellow
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Graduate Student
Lab Affiliations
Achievements
- Member, National Academy of Sciences (2020)
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2017)
- Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2013)
- Louise and Allston Boyer Young Investigator in Basic Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2006)
- Scholar, Rita Allen Foundation (2003-2006)
Read more
- Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and New York Academy of Sciences (2003)
- Young Investigator Award, Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation (1999-2002)
Open Positions
To learn more about available postdoctoral opportunities, please visit our Career Center
To learn more about compensation and benefits for postdoctoral researchers at MSK, please visit Resources for Postdocs
Career Opportunities
Applicants who are interested in working on mechanisms involved in post-translational protein modification or RNA capping and decay processes are always encouraged to apply for Postdoctoral Fellow positions in the lab.
Get in Touch
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Lab Head Email
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Office Phone
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Office Fax
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Lab Phone
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Lab Fax
Disclosures
Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.
MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.
Christopher D. Lima discloses the following relationships and financial interests:
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Biogen Idec
Equity -
Cornell Research Foundation
Intellectual Property Rights
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General Electric
Equity -
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Equity
The information published here is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.
This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2022 through disclosure submission in spring 2023). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.
Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].