Charles R. Sanders

Charles R. Sanders is an American biophysical chemist. He is Professor of Biochemistry and Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where he holds the Aileen M. Lange and Annie Mary Lyle Chair in Cardiovascular Research. He also serves as Senior Advisor to the Dean of Basic Sciences.

Early life and education Sanders earned his bachelor's degrees in chemistry and mathematics from Milligan University. He received a Ph.D. in chemistry from Ohio State University, where he studied under Ming-Daw Tsai.

Career Before joining Vanderbilt University, Sanders served on the faculty of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where he established an independent research program in membrane protein biophysics. He has served in several academic leadership positions within Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, including Associate Dean for Research in Basic Sciences, Vice Dean for Basic Sciences, and Senior Advisor to the Dean of Basic Sciences. His laboratory identified candidate small molecules that modulate PMP22 production or cell-surface trafficking as potential therapeutic leads for the disease.

His laboratory also investigates other disease-related membrane proteins, including PERP (p53 apoptosis effector related to PMP22) and proteins involved in neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders.

Honors and awards 2012 – Award in Membrane Protein Biophysics, Biophysical Society 2013 – Hans Neurath Award, The Protein Society 2021–2023 – Served as President of The Protein Society.

Selected publications Sanders CR, Schwonek JP. Biochemistry (1992). "Characterization of Magnetically Orientable Bilayers in Mixtures of DHPC and DMPC by Solid State NMR." Barrett PJ, Song Y, Van Horn WD, et al. Science (2012). "The Amyloid Precursor Protein Has a Flexible Transmembrane Domain and Binds Cholesterol." Marinko JT, Huang H, Penn WD, et al. Chemical Reviews (2019). "Folding and Misfolding of Human Membrane Proteins in Health and Disease." Katherine M. Stefanskiǂ, Geoffrey C. Liǂ, Justin T. Marinko, Bruce D. Carter, David C. Samuels*, and Charles R. Sanders* Journal of Biological Chemistry (2022). How T118M peripheral myelin protein 22 predisposes humans to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease . Sanders CR, Carter CB, Wilkinson MC, Li GC, Stefanski KN. Chemical Reviews (2026). "Peripheral Myelin Protein-22 and Its Prominence in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease."