Christopher Bot

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT CHRISTOPHER BOT

My PhD focused on drug development against two related parasitic diseases: African Sleeping Sickness and Chagas Disease. I performed drug target validation and mechanism of action studies on the clinical drug Nifurtimox, helping to show that it functions as a pro-drug which is activated via a unique parasitic nitroreductase enzyme. Nifurtimox has since been included in the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. My Post-doc then provided me with experience in chromosome segregation and DNA repair in human cells. Mutations in the gene NIPBL cause Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, and I discovered that the NIPBL protein is recruited to damaged DNA in a highly unusual manner.I then began at Cancer Research Horizons as a lab-based Senior Scientist, working on emerging areas of cancer drug discovery. I used various molecular and cellular biology techniques to validate novel small molecule targets, characterize biomarkers, develop cell profiling and target engagement assays, and to determine the appropriate disease positioning for lead compounds. I have worked in therapeutic areas ranging from the DNA Damage Response to Immune-Oncology, including the PolΘ inhibitor collaboration with Artios Pharma that has progressed to clinical trials.As a Principal Scientist I now lead biology teams on various drug discovery projects within a matrix management environment, as well as performing line management functions for multiple line reports. As part of my Biology Lead role, I routinely interact with industrial partners, academics, and CROs. I also lead our Cell Engineering team to bring in-house new and cutting-edge gene editing capabilities.