Steffan developed the method of regulating transcription with synthetic ligands (Nature 382, 822, 1996) which was later taken up by Ariad and Jim Wilson’s gene therapy group and used for the first regulated effective gene therapy in primates. In addition, Steffan cloned NF-ATc1, c2 and NF-ATc3 with Jeff Northrop. Finally Steffan found that calicheamicin oligosaccharide bound to the NF-AT site in DNA and was an effective antigonist, providing the first steps in a path that will hopefully lead to small molecules that block protein-DNA interactions. Steffan is presently an Assistant Professor at UCSD and can be reached at: snho@ucsd.edu or see his web page.