Dr. Mark L. Nelson is our strategy and scientific advisor and a medicinal chemist specializing in antibiotic and drug design chemistry and commercial applications. He received a B.S. in Chemistry and Microbiology from Gannon University and a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology from Temple University. He completed postdoctoral training at Tufts University School of Medicine under Dr. Stuart B. Levy, where they launched Paratek Pharmaceuticals in 1996. As Senior Director of Chemistry, he led the generation of over 3,000 tetracycline derivatives, resulting in the 2018 FDA-approved antibiotics Nuzyra™ and Seysara™. His research continues to explore the properties of novel tetracyclines, including anti-inflammatory effects in stroke (Univ. of Buffalo, Halterman Lab), neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s (EPFL, Auwerx Lab), and he is Vice President of Chemistry and Co-founder at Neumedics, Inc., with a topical active in macular degeneration (www.neumedics.com).

Dr. Nelson is an inventor on over 40 patents. His honors include a Fulbright Lectureship Fellowship, a Wellcome Trust Fellowship, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Gannon University, and the 2019 American Chemical Society Heroes of Chemistry Award.

Currently, he is involved in several biotechnology startups, advising on and leading business development efforts in industry, including Altoris, Inc. (cheminformatics), and collaborating with researchers at the University of Michigan (dermatology, Kahlenberg Lab), UC Berkeley (cancer, Dillin and Raulet Labs), and Burhans Laboratories (antifungal agent development).

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