James Merritt Email and Phone Number

• Directing early stage drug discovery programs for oncology and metabolic disease• Directing advancement of promising compounds through in vitro ADMET and in vivo PK and PD studies with sister companies.• Oversight of in vivo formulation stability studies for novel compounds• Assisting with IND-enabling activities, patent filings and coordination of CRO efforts• Preparing/presenting monthly drug discovery program summaries for Executive Officers• Leading/mentoring teams of medicinal chemists on site

Organic and Medicinal ChemistryNJ Center for Science Technology and Mathematics (NJCSTM)•Established funded student research for synthesis of small molecules for drug discovery•Engaged in collaborative research synthesizing novel small molecule inhibitors for glioblastoma and SARS-CoV-2•Research advisor and mentor for over 50 undergraduate and graduate student researchers since 2010. Twelve continued into prestigious Ph.D. programs in chemistry and biology•Collaborative research with NJ biotechnology companies: Venenum Biodesign, Prokaryotics and Montelino Therapeutics•Taught Organic and Medicinal Chemistry courses and Laboratories•Taught scientific writing and presentation courses•Provided medicinal chemistry short courses for scientific professionals•Provided summer research opportunities in medicinal chemistry for high school students

Taught Organic & General Chemistry Lectures and Laboratories

•Medicinal chemistry chairperson for discovery collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb•Directed medicinal chemistry efforts for a CNS program•Supervised a group of Ph.D. and M.S. level chemists.•Managed/directed outsourced chemistry efforts with a group of chemists in India

Medicinal Chemistry Project Leader•Managed drug discovery programs for various chemokine receptor antagonists•Discovered, optimized and patented novel CXCR2 antagonists•CXCR2 antagonist advanced into human clinical trials •Discovered, optimized and patented novel CCR1 antagonists•Advanced CCR1 antagonist into preclinical development•Worked closely with biologists and pharmacologists to facilitate advancement of promising compounds.•Medicinal chemistry chairperson for discovery collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb•Medicinal chemistry project leader in discovery collaboration with Schering-Plough•Supervised groups of Ph.D., M.S. and B.S. level chemists.•Established and managed outsourced chemistry efforts with groups of chemists in China and India

Developed novel solid-phase route for synthesis of carbohydrates