Experience

Rgenta Therapeutics Inc.

• United States
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-Founder, President and CSO

  • Dec 2019 - Present



Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President Research

  • May 2018 - Nov 2019



Pfizer

• United States
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Discovery Network Leadership Team

  • Apr 2017 - Apr 2018

  Co-Led the Discovery Network Leadership Team responsible for identifying, evaluating and building platform approaches to accelerate the translation of novel biological concepts into valued drug targets across all disease areas of interest. • Identified areas of focus and built innovative networks (US and Europe) around RNA small molecule modulators. • Single Point of accountability for overseeing Medicinal Chemistry effort for small molecule collaborations at Centers for Therapeutic… Show more Co-Led the Discovery Network Leadership Team responsible for identifying, evaluating and building platform approaches to accelerate the translation of novel biological concepts into valued drug targets across all disease areas of interest. • Identified areas of focus and built innovative networks (US and Europe) around RNA small molecule modulators. • Single Point of accountability for overseeing Medicinal Chemistry effort for small molecule collaborations at Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI). • Over a one-year period delivered three new academic collaboration projects

• External Opportunities Scout for Neuroscience, Associate Research Fellow

  • Feb 2012 - Jan 2018

  • Worked with the LRRK2 team to write proposals for MJFOX – Develop a PET ligand and study safety funded by MJFOX. • Set up a collaboration with National Institutes of Health (NIH, NIDA) – $M NIDA funded, multi-year collaboration to study the effects of circadian rhythms on drug addiction. • Built a new way to integrate academics in drug discovery through the joint Ph.D. studentship. Awarded a Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering studentship (CASE studentships) with David… Show more • Worked with the LRRK2 team to write proposals for MJFOX – Develop a PET ligand and study safety funded by MJFOX. • Set up a collaboration with National Institutes of Health (NIH, NIDA) – $M NIDA funded, multi-year collaboration to study the effects of circadian rhythms on drug addiction. • Built a new way to integrate academics in drug discovery through the joint Ph.D. studentship. Awarded a Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering studentship (CASE studentships) with David Bechtold – University of Manchester – Circadian Rhythm drug targets.

• Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease (CVMED) Design Head, Research Fellow

  • Mar 2016 - Jan 2017

  Functioned as the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Medicinal Chemistry Design Manager. Responsible for delivering the Metabolic and Cardiovascular diseases portfolio from idea to development candidate (DC) selection. • Mentor three design research scientists and ensured synthetic resource were allocated to maximize portfolio project success

• Research Project Leader Neuroscience Research Unit, Research Fellow

  • Jan 2010 - 2017

  Served as Research Project Leader (RPL) for the Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit (NPRU). Responsible for building “Tiger” teams, and scientific strategy, project milestones, and timelines. • Led several teams in the discovery of three Phase II development candidates that have completed trials in ADHD, narcolepsy and allergic rhinitis. • Enabled the delivery of a program from design idea through successful Phase I POM studies with a 20-30-person team made up of Biologists, Chemists… Show more Served as Research Project Leader (RPL) for the Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit (NPRU). Responsible for building “Tiger” teams, and scientific strategy, project milestones, and timelines. • Led several teams in the discovery of three Phase II development candidates that have completed trials in ADHD, narcolepsy and allergic rhinitis. • Enabled the delivery of a program from design idea through successful Phase I POM studies with a 20-30-person team made up of Biologists, Chemists, PDM, Safety, Clinical and Regulatory members. • Single point of accountability to deliver project milestones with a multi-disciplinary matrix team. • Delivered D3/D2 dual receptor antagonist to development candidate status. • Responsible for delivering a none evasive biomarker tool box to enable clinical studies in MDD and AD patients. Lead the collaboration between Pfizer CK1 team and the Spivack Center, Boston University School of Medicine to develop Ambulatory Device Validation for Alzheimer’s Disease.

• Group Design Lead Neuroscience and Pain Department, Research Fellow

  • Mar 2012 - 2016

  Functioned as the Neuroscience Group Design Lead in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and managed five high performing medicinal chemists with experience ranging from Senior Research Scientist (SRS) to Associate Research Fellow (ARF). • Led a team that made the first brain penetrant kinase inhibitor for a chronic CNS indication to survive phase 1 testing, the casein kinase 1 delta/epsilon inhibitor is currently entering phase 2 clinical trials, through using the power of the CNS MPO and… Show more Functioned as the Neuroscience Group Design Lead in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and managed five high performing medicinal chemists with experience ranging from Senior Research Scientist (SRS) to Associate Research Fellow (ARF). • Led a team that made the first brain penetrant kinase inhibitor for a chronic CNS indication to survive phase 1 testing, the casein kinase 1 delta/epsilon inhibitor is currently entering phase 2 clinical trials, through using the power of the CNS MPO and structure-based drug design my group was able to make the first brain • Mentored two research project leaders (RPLs) that delivered LD to development candidate milestones (delivered four clinical development candidates).

• Laboratory Head Neuroscience Department, Associate Research Fellow

  • Jan 2008 - Dec 2012

  Functioned as a Laboratory Head of medicinal chemistry responsible for project progression and the development of the next generation design tools and increase the quality of clinical candidates. • Supervised and developing five laboratory-based scientists developing novel synthetic methods and developing SAR. • Developed early safety derisking strategies and tools for the alignment of drug attributes (potency, ADME, CNS penetration, and safety) in one molecule. • Made seminal… Show more Functioned as a Laboratory Head of medicinal chemistry responsible for project progression and the development of the next generation design tools and increase the quality of clinical candidates. • Supervised and developing five laboratory-based scientists developing novel synthetic methods and developing SAR. • Developed early safety derisking strategies and tools for the alignment of drug attributes (potency, ADME, CNS penetration, and safety) in one molecule. • Made seminal contributions to the understanding of physicochemical properties that enable small molecule brain penetration (CNS MPO). The CNS MPO desirability tool has dramatically increased the fraction of clinical candidates that exhibit favorable ADME properties, brain penetration, and safety features. • Developed the FNS safety tool and co-developed the 3&75 RRF property analysis tool.

• Chemistry Point of Contact, Neuroscience Department, Senior Principal Scientist

  • 2004 - 2008

  Led synthetic chemistry, combinatorial library design, project delivery and develop IP. • Supervised experts in medicinal chemistry library design and synthesis • Developed SAR for projects and discovered novel intellectual property • Expanded our synthetic capabilities through the utilization of external chemistry vendors, managed up to 12 Wuxi, GVK or US based external lab scientists ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE Pfizer, Cambridge, Groton, CT • Senior Research… Show more Led synthetic chemistry, combinatorial library design, project delivery and develop IP. • Supervised experts in medicinal chemistry library design and synthesis • Developed SAR for projects and discovered novel intellectual property • Expanded our synthetic capabilities through the utilization of external chemistry vendors, managed up to 12 Wuxi, GVK or US based external lab scientists ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE Pfizer, Cambridge, Groton, CT • Senior Research Scientist, Neuroscience Department • Lab Manager in Training, Neuroscience Department