John Blankenship Email & Phone Number

Boston, Ma, Us

Basel, Baselstadt, Ch

Global head of antibody discovery unit in the Biologics Research Center, leading groups working on antibody discovery, optimization and laboratory automation in the USA and Switzerland. Coordinating biologics discovery for all of Novartis's therapeutic areas. Initiated two external collaborations in generative AI/ML.

Basel, Baselstadt, Ch

Global head of antibody discovery unit in the Novartis Biologics Center, leading groups working on antibody discovery, optimization, laboratory automation, and bioanalytical characterization in the USA and Switzerland. Coordinating biologics discovery for all of Novartis's therapeutic areas. Serving as project leader on multiple therapeutic projects.

Basel, Baselstadt, Ch

Basel, Baselstadt, Ch

Leading antibody discovery across all of NIBR's therapeutic areas using both library-based and immunization-based approaches at NIBR's Cambridge campus. Serving as project leader on multiple therapeutic projects.

Basel, Baselstadt, Ch

Basel, Baselstadt, Ch

Leading multiple phage display and yeast display labs for high-throughput antibody discovery across Novartis's therapeutic areas at NIBR's Cambridge campus. Serving as project leader on multiple therapeutic projects.

Basel, Baselstadt, Ch

Led a high-throughput antibody discovery and engineering group. Used phage display and yeast display to discover and optimize new therapeutic antibodies across multiple disease areas in Novartis. Served as project leader for multiple therapeutic projects.

Seattle, Wa, Us

Managed molecular biology and antibody engineering group at Aptevo Therapeutics in Seattle, after the spinout from Emergent BioSolutions.

Gaithersburg, Maryland, Us

Managed molecular biology and antibody engineering group at Emergent BioSolutions in Seattle. Led MOR209/ES414 project through IND filing, helped establish clinical collaborators and helped develop translational research plan for phase 1 study in mCRPC. Assisted with business development to secure a development partner for MOR209/ES414. Helped identify new oncology targets and initiated a new bispecific antibody project targeting ROR1 for the treatment of solid malignancies. Publications:* Molecular Cancer Therapeutics (2016), in press

Gaithersburg, Maryland, Us

Demonstrated pre-clinical POC for bispecific antibodies redirecting T cell cytotoxicity towards targets in both solid and hematological malignancies. Led anti-PSMA x anti-CD3 bispecific antibody project (ES414) through in vivo POC in prostate cancer models, PK and repeat-dose toxicology studies in non-human primates, and prepared data package for Pre-IND meeting with FDA. Developed cell-based potency release assays for bispecific antibody projects.

Us

Used biophysical and protein engineering techniques in biologic drug discovery in AIID and oncology programs at Trubion. Worked on bispecifics that selectively target T-cell costimulatory pathways on antigen presenting cells, as well as bispecifics targeted at hematologic malignancies. Served as project leader for an oncology project using bispecific antibodies to target solid malignancies expressing the RON receptor tyrosine kinase, and initiated discovery efforts on PSMA-directed therapies.Presentations:"anti-CD79B x anti-DR ScorpionTM Molecule: A Single Chain, Bispecific Immunotherapeutic With Potent In Vitro Activity Against B Cell Lymphoma" - 2009 AACR"Beyond SMIPsTM: The Development of Small Multi-Specific Immunotherapeutics" - 2010 IBC Complex Biologic Development & Production"ScorpionTM Molecules Block T cell Co-stimulation via CD80/CD86 Blockade and Induce a Tolerogenic Response via an IL10 Agonistic Signal" - 2010 PEGS

South San Francisco, California, Us

Working with Kurt Deshayes, in the Department of Protein Engineering, I used biophysical methods to determine the binding mode and mechanism of action of IAP antagonists to c-IAP1 and XIAP; also studied the role of IAPs as E3 ubiquitin ligases in apoptosis, including the discovery and characterization of a previously unknown UBA domain in the IAPs. Used phage display of protein and peptide libraries to find selective binders of proteins involved in NF-κB activation and the ubiquitin/proteasome system, towards the goal of developing novel inhibitors of protein-protein interactions. Publications:* Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (2014) 21, 1068-1074.* Biochemical Journal (2009) 417, 149-160.* Cell (2007) 131, 669-681.

Montréal, Qc, Ca

With William Lubell (Univ de Montreal) and Uri Saragovi (McGill Univ) , I used computational and spectroscopic approaches to study novel antagonists and identify possible modes of binding to the oxytocin receptor, as well as novel antibody-derived ligands for the cancer-associated GD2 ganglioside. Helped design and used a Pictet-Spengler cyclization strategy to create a novel series of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines.Publications:* Chemistry & Biology (2010) 17, 183-194.* Heterocycles (2008) 76, 1121-1131.* Science of Synthesis 21.11, Chemistry of Amides. (2005) 713-809.* Journal of Peptide Science. (2005) 11, 365-378.* Peptides (2004) 746-747.

Ph.D., Biophysical Chemistry (Mcsc)

B.Sc., Biochemistry