Organic Synthesis, Analytical Chemistry, Drug Discovery, Chem. Biology

Daniele Pernazza, PhD

***** ******** **, *** *

Tampa, FL 33617

Skills, Experience, and Personal Attributes

Knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry

Experience and hands-on knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry, including multi-step synthesis, parallel and multi-gram scale synthesis, asymmetric catalysis and organometallic chemistry. Medicinal chemistry and drug discovery skills, acquired over several years in a cancer research setting.

Experience of natural products chemistry, biochemistry and biology laboratory techniques

Experience of plant natural products extraction, fractionation, isolation, and characterization. Experience of bioassay-driven fractionation. Experience of recombinant proteins expression and purification, including use of SDS-PAGE and FPLC (ÄKTA). Experience of tissue-culture techniques and working knowledge of Fluorescence Polarization, MTT, ELISA, BrdU and Cr-51 release assays.

Extensive experience of chromatographic and analytical techniques

Experience in compounds purification and characterization using NMR, IR, UV, MS, HPLC-MS, and HPLC (analytical, semi-preparative, and preparative). Expertise in Biotage chromatographic systems, preparative HPLC, and re-crystallization techniques. Maintenance of analytical instruments from brands such as Varian (NMR), Jasco (HPLC) and Agilent (MS, HPLC-MS).

Efficient time-planner

Whenever I set objectives, I plan daily activities around achieving them. I always meet deadlines set for delivery of synthetic compounds, analytical data, assay results, presentations, and grant proposals.

Ability to multi-task

I succeed in parallel management of different research projects. I can handle several compounds libraries for multiple drug discovery targets at one time with no difficulty.

Education

2003 Ph.D. Organic chemistry.

University of Glasgow, UK

Laurea (M.Sc. Hons.; Chemistry)

University of Rome Sapienza, Italy

Academic achievements

2000 Graduate research exchange studentship

Awarded by the Chemistry Department, University of Rome Sapienza

1998 CASE studentship

Awarded by AstraZeneca

Memberships

American Association for Cancer Research

Royal Society of Chemistry, UK

Employment history

Chemistry and Languages Freelance Tutor, Tampa, FL

May 2012–present

Responsibilities: Tutoring of undergraduate and college students in general chemistry and organic chemistry. Tutoring of students of all levels in Italian language.

Achievements: Successfully guided students through chemistry and organic chemistry studies and tests. Helped language students becoming more fluent in Italian. Received positive feedback

(http://www.wyzant.com/Tutors/FL/Tampa/7964675/Feedback.aspx).

Research Scientist, Drug Discovery Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL

Feb 2009–Jan 2012

Responsibilities: Design, synthesis and assessment of disruptors of MDM2/p53, MDMx/p53, Bcl-x /BH3 and MCl-1/BH3 interactions. Synthesis of SHP2 phosphatase inhibitors.

Achievements: Synthesized a new cell active SHP2 ester pro-drug, with scale-up for animal experiments. Developed a potent, cell active MCl-1/BH3 lead (in vitro IC50 = 4µM; in vivo IC50 = 25µM) starting from a HTS hit. Designed and synthesized Moffitt’s current MDM2/p53 lead, with IC50 = 9µM.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL

Mar 2005–Jan 2009

Responsibilities: Synthesis of new small molecule disruptors of Rb/Raf-1, MDM2/p53, and Bcl-x /BH3 interactions. Solvent extraction of Asian traditional medicine plants, and bioassay-guided fractionation of extracts, isolation, chemical and biological characterization of bioactive natural products. Synthesis of new small molecule disruptors of the Rb/Raf-1 protein-protein interaction. Synthesis of resin-bound small molecules for affinity chromatography. Synthesis of vitamin E and tocotrienol analogs.

Achievements: Promoted to Research Scientist. Synthesized a new library of Bcl-x /BH3 inhibitors with IC50 = 30µM. Isolated and fully characterized a natural product with anti-proliferative properties (SK-Hep1 IC50 10µg/mL). Received a $30,000 grant from the Department of Complementary Medicine, Moffitt Cancer Center. Synthesized the Rb/Raf-1 Moffitt lead RRD-251, an inhibitor of lung cancer growth in mouse xenografts. Part of the Moffitt team that was awarded a $12.5 million PO1 grant for the study of protein-protein interactions in cancer (NIH CA118210).

Postdoctoral Research Associate Cardiff University, UK

Aug 2002–Feb 2005

Responsibilities: Investigation of new Sn(II)/N-ligand combinations for asymmetric reduction of aromatic ketones, developing on previous Sn(OTf)2-based catalysts. Design and synthesis of new ligands. Assessment of catalysts performance by chiral HPLC.

Achievements: Developed tin(II) fluoride as a new inexpensive catalyst for the reduction of alkyl- aryl ketones [SnF2 is 100 times cheaper than Sn(OTf)2]. Increased enantioselectivity of the PMHS mediated reduction of acetophenone, from ~40% to 62% e.e.

Summary of other jobs

Midshipman, Trainer and Teacher Italian Navy Petty Officers School, Taranto, Italy

Jun 1997–Jun 1998

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