Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS UNDER SECTION 302

I, Safi R. Bahcall, Ph.D., certify that:

1.                                      I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp.; and

2.                                      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.