Scientist, Chemist
Resume:
MAHESH KUMAR GUNDLURU, Ph. D
Cordova, TN 38105-2794, USA
US permanent resident
E-mail: ******.********@******.*** profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/maheshgundluru Ph: 901-***-****
SUMMARY
Highly Competent Synthetic Organic/Medicinal Chemist with hands-on expertise in complex natural product synthesis, small molecule synthesis, SAR study and synthetic methodology. Strong knowledge in asymmetric multistep organic synthesis, scaffold design and library development with ability to solve challenging chemistry hurdles within the time line. Demonstrated ability to work within multidisciplinary team of experts in industrial setting to drive hit-to-lead projects and to generate novel synthetic analogs for biological studies.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
• Total synthesis of natural and natural product analogs
• Anti-cancer and anti-malarial drug discovery
• Target oriented research: spliceosome and HIF-I
• Lead optimization by in vitro, in vivo and PK studies • Process development and scale-up
• Manuscript, patent writing and reviewing
• Good communication & interpersonal skills
• Proposal/idea development and execution
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research Associate Dec 2008 – present
Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
• Design and synthesis of novel spliceosome modulators based on pharmacophore model of natural products pladienolide (PD) and FR901464 (FR) to develop lead compounds for multiple cancer types.
• Accomplished a novel, efficient stereoselective pathway to stereoisomers of PD macrolide core.
• Optimization and scale up of 18 linear step (23 overall) synthetic pathway to PD-FR hybrid analogues within one year time frame.
• Identification of novel natural product analogs (PD analog) by diverse hit-to-lead scaffold synthesis.
• Lead chemist of the project: Effectively communicated with biologists in monthly meetings, written monthly reports, manuscripts and assisted PI in grant proposals.
Postdoctoral Research Associate Oct 2005 – Dec 2008
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
• Accomplished first total synthesis of HIF-1 activation inhibitor laurenditerpenol and determined its absolute configuration. Evaluated SAR of their stereoisomers (convergent, 17 steps – 6 stereoisomers).
• Development of C7 artemisinin based broad-spectrum antiparasitic and antiproliferal agents (in vitro).
• Developed potent (in vivo) artemisinin based antimalarials with excellent pharmacological profiles. Nominated 2 preclinical candidates.
• Efficient synthetic route development for designed macrolide antibiotics (potential erythromycin analogs).
• Synthesis and structure elucidation of complex manzamine derivatives by extensive 2D NMR studies.
Graduate Research Associate Jan 2000 – Oct 2005
Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India
• Developed a stereoselective route for C1-C16 fragment of potent anticancer natural product bryostatin.
• Developed several novel and highly efficient organic transformations.
• Developed green chemistry protocol for the preparation of isoxazolidines in ionic liquids.
• Developed two methodologies on Indium trihalide mediated regioselective ring opening aziridines.
• Microwave assisted rapid synthesis of aryl hydrazides.
• Developed an expeditious synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes by LiClO4 catalyzed reactions of Indoles.
• Developed a highly efficient procedure for the synthesis of 4-hydroxy 2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans through prins type cyclisation reaction using Montmorillonite clay.
• Developed a novel method for the O-glycosidation of glucal using Sc(OTf)3 as catalyst.
• Involved in the pilot plant scale process development of pyrethroid insecticide -Cyhalothrin.
Other Laboratory & Industrial experience
Lab Intern & Project Assistant, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India (1998 - 1999)
Trainee Chemist, Cheminor Drugs Ltd., Andhra Pradesh, India (1995 - 1996)
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY
Instrumentation
• SFC analytical and preparative chiral/achiral separations, UPLC, HPLC, GC, IR, H-cube hydrogenation
• Milligrams to development scale rapid purifications on Biotage Isolera and SP4
Skills
• Air/moisture sensitive multistep synthesis up to kilogram scale
• Microwave, pilot plant and parallel synthesis
• 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy (COSY, HMBC, HMQC, NOESY and ROESY)
• Routinely use E-notebook, EndNote, ChemBioOffice, Mestnova, ACD, chemical inventory, MS office
• Familiar with search engines: Scifinder, Beilstein Crossfire, Reaxys, Discovery gate
AFFILIATIONS AND AWARDS
• Peer reviewer to Journal of Organic Chemistry, Tetrahedron Letters, Tetrahedron, Medicinal Chemistry Research and Journal of Natural Products
• Ph. D Thesis Examiner to Manipal University, India
• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC), Full member of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, Member of American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (AAAS), Member of American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Awarded Senior and Junior Research Fellowships from CSIR, India (2000-2005)
EDUCATION
Ph. D. Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India, 2000 - 2005
Thesis title: “Studies Directed towards the Synthesis of Bryostatin and Development of New Methodologies”. Advisor: Dr. J. S. Yadav
M. Sc. Industry Oriented Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India, 1996 - 1998
B. Sc. Biology and Chemistry, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupathi, India, 1992 - 1995
PATENTS, PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
16 publications, 1 provisional patent application and 14 poster presentations
Patent
• “Method for derivatization of hydroxy metabolites of artemisinin and 10-deoxoartemisinin” Mitchell A. Avery, Gundluru Mahesh Kumar, Kannoth M. Muraleedharan, Anuradha Illendula, John S. Williamson and Boney A. Avery. United States Provisional Patent (Application Number 61/083,678)
Selected Publications
• “Design and synthesis novel spliceosome modulators as anticancer drug leads” Gundluru Mahesh Kumar, Alan Pourpak, Stephan W. Morris and Thomas R. Webb. Manuscript under preparation to Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
• “Novel synthesis of a pladienolide macrolide core” Gundluru Mahesh Kumar and Thomas R. Webb. Manuscript submitted to Organic Letters
• “Semi synthetic studies on the manzamine alkaloids” Khalid A. El Sayed, Ashraf A. Khalil, Muhammad Yousaf, Guillermo Labadie, Gundluru Mahesh Kumar, Scott G. Franzblau, Alejandro M. S. Mayer, Mitchell A. Avery, and Mark T. Hamann. Journal of Natural Products 2008, 71, 300-308.
• “Total synthesis and absolute configuration of laurenditerpenol: A HIF-1 activation inhibitor” Amar G. Chittiboyina, Gundluru Mahesh Kumar, Paulo B. Carvalho, Yang Liu, Yu-Dong Zhou, Dale G. Nagle, and Mitchell A. Avery. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2007, 50, 6299-6303.
• “Three-component coupling reactions in ionic liquids: One-pot synthesis of isoxazolidines” J. S. Yadav, B. V. S. Reddy, P. Sreedhar, Ch.V. S. R. Murthy, G. Mahesh, G. Kondaji and K. Nagaiah. Journal of Molecular catalysis A: Chemical 2007, 270, 160-163.
• “Indium trihalide mediated regioselective ring opening of aziridines: A facile synthesis of 2-haloamines” J. S. Yadav, B. V. Subba Reddy, G. Mahesh Kumar. Synlett 2001, 9, 1417-1418.
• “Incl3-SiO2 catalyzed electrophilic amination of arenes: A facile and rapid synthesis of aryl hydrazides” J. S. Yadav, B. V. Subba Reddy, G. Mahesh Kumar and Ch. Madan. Synlett 2001, 11, 1781-1783.
• “Montmorillonite clay catalyzed in situ Prins-type cyclisation reaction” J. S. Yadav, B. V. Subba Reddy, G. Mahesh Kumar and Ch. V. S. R. Murthy. Tetrahedron Letters 2001, 42, 89-91.
• “Scandium triflate catalyzed Ferrier rearrangement: An efficient synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated glycopyranosides” J. S. Yadav, B. V. Subba Reddy, Ch. V. S. R. Murthy and G. Mahesh Kumar. Synlett 2000, 10, 1450-1451.
Contact this candidate