Rodrigo A. Rodriguez

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT RODRIGO A. RODRIGUEZ

Over 90% of drug discovery projects fail.Each failure can cost up to 500M and 10 years of effort.More than 60% of all diseases have no cure.Mission statement:I am passionate about drug discovery and emerging technologies that enable phenotypic screening. A new era of innovation in drug discovery is underway and soon we will deliver solutions to patients that need them.Background:I am a synthetic organic chemist with a decade of biotech/pharma experience.PhD from The Scripps Research Institute (Prof. Phil S. Baran). My graduate work focused on the total synthesis of pyrrole imidazole alkaloids natural products and methodological development, culminating into commercialization of various reagents by Sigma-Aldrich in the area of C-C and C-X bond formation. BS in Cell Molecular Biology from San Diego State University. Generated lead SAR for macrocyclic peptide inhibitors of Hsp90. Conducted pull-down assays for target ID.Having degrees in both organic chemistry and cell molecular biology has allowed me to venture into many areas at the interface of Chemistry and Biology. I have experience in the following areas: Cystic Fibrosis, Antiviral Therapeutics, Kinase inhibitors, Next generation sequencing, DNA encoded libraries, natural product synthesis, and electrochemistry.My passion is to use scientific insight to improve human health. I’m a firm believer in the advancement of research goals through practical solutions.On my time off I enjoy photography, painting and creating traditional/digital art. Over the years of practicing art, I have discovered new ways of conceptualizing and processing complex ideas. The brain is an adaptive muscle that can be further unlocked after many rounds of creative practice. This experience has proven to be an invaluable asset for finding innovative solutions in many instances throughout my scientific career.