Reuben D
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Brigham Young University
Expertise
Immunology, Antivirals, Blood Diseases, Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Drug Discovery & Development, Biochemistry, Gene Therapy, Oligonucleotides, Nuclear Medicince
Bio
I am a Research Scientist and drug developer. I research and supervise the investigation of diseases of the human body and how they can be understood and treated. I also help prepare drugs for clinical trials with the FDA. Currently, I am working on developing 2 drugs for Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for bone cancers and acute myeloid leukemia. My lab created and developed two recently FDA-approved drugs for oncology called Pluvicto and Cytalux. Pluvicto was sold to Novartis for $2.1bn. I am also working on another asset for Influenza and RSV that’s going into Phase III clinical trials in Belgium and Australia. I have a Bachelors in Chemistry with a Minor in Biology. My PhD was in Medicinal Chemistry, which focuses on the design and development of drug therapies for diseases of the human body. I was a Postdoctoral Associate at Purdue University. The therapeutic areas of my research include gene therapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, antivirals, antibacterials, and antiparasitics. When I am not at work, I like to build Legos, hike with my dog or go to the gym! Students working with me will get to learn real world applications of science, it’s diversity and power for good.Project ideas
Genetic markers for the diagnosis and treatment of Sickle Cell Disease
This project highlights the genetic differences between healthy and patients with sickle cell disease. The genetic drivers and the effects of the genetic differences will be highlighted. Additionally, the downstream molecular targets from these genetic differences will be reviewed and discussed as potential therapeutic targets. The therapies discussed include gene therapy, monoclonal antibodies and small molecule drugs.
Radioligands and their utility as diagnostic and therapeutic agents for cancers.
The physics and chemistry of radio nucleotides will be discussed. This discussion will lead to the appropriate application in imaging and cell killing as treatments for cancers. Examples of drugs utilizing radioligands will be discussed, their synthesis and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic properties will be expounded upon. The molecular effects of using radioligand will be discussed as well. Suggestions as to future developments and potential advancements will be proposed.
The Role of AI in the generation of targeted therapeutics
An article exploring targeted therapeutics, it’s benefit and how AI can expedite the process of identification of disease-related molecular targets as well as generate target-specific warheads in pharmaceuticals.
The role of emerging biomarkers for targeted therapeutic and diagnostics in cancer treatment.
This project would go in depth into emerging protein biomarkers, their role and potential to be exploited for the targeted delivery of cytotoxic payload as cancer treatments. This project will provide the student with detailed information on genetic drivers of oncology and the science and utility of computer aided drug design, chemical synthesis, biological evaluation and development of targeted -radiotherapy, -chemo, -immunotherapy and other forms of cancer specific therapies
The role of Macrophages and Class Switching in the Tumor Microenvironment
This project would go into cellular detail of the role macrophages, an immune cell plays in the initiations, development and metastasis of cancers. This project will also explore how immunomodulators can effect a chance on the role immune cells play in the tumor microenvironment in resistance, fibrosis, evasion and cytotoxicity. This project will provide state-of-art insights into immunotherapies and immune cell genetics
The significance of native biomolecules in the tumor microenvironment
This interesting project will investigate and seek to find the chemicals found in tumors, why they are there and how they affect the tumor cell population. This project will provide a sound understanding of the nature of oncology.