Joshua Wingerd Email & Phone Number

Australia

Sydney, Australia

Program Lead on multiple discovery stage projects, developing antibodies that therapeutically modulate ion channel and GPCR targets covering various therapeutic indications, such as inflammation, immunology and pain.Coordination of work across multiple global sites and with CROs, from project initiation to development candidate. Development of discovery workplans, applied expert guidance for functional assay development and analysis.New target assessment.

Sydney, Australia

As the first employee in Sydney, I significantly contributed to establishing the AbCellera Australia site, which now employs over 50 people in a >250 sqm facility. This site was instrumental in establishing internal programs to develop antibodies that modulate complex membrane proteins, such as ion channels and GPCRs, for therapeutic purposes.I leveraged years of broad scientific expertise to establish protocols, purchase equipment, and hire talent while occupying an incubator site. Not only did I initiate bench work on 2 of the 3 foundational programs, I managed lab affairs, CapEx, safety, established project management systems, and contributed to conceptualizing the new site design.I eventually settled into my primary role of managing 5+ early discovery programs, responsible for functional and biochemical evaluation of hits, hit-to-lead, and lead selection of clinical development candidates. This role involved constant high level coordination with AbCellera Vancouver and with CROs to drive project success.

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

-Hit discovery and lead generation of novel biologic therapeutics targeting a diverse ion channels pipeline.-Successful implementation of new technologies in support of ligand/voltage gated ion channel electrophysiology screening programs.

Brisbane, Australia

A Cooperative Research Centre collaborative between leading Australian research institutes, universities, and biotech companies aiming to effectively translate discovery research to clinical development of cancer therapeutics.Based at the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD), the CRC team I worked with utilized a combination of in vitro high-content imaging, biochemical assays, and high-throughput screening to identify immuno-regulatory modulators of early-stage cancer progression and determine the MOA for hit-to-lead optimization, driving medicinal chemistry. My specific role involved managing the functional screening workflows of 3 projects, ELN data entry (Dotmatics), regular reporting, and liaising with multiple off-site collaborators to effectively communicate project results, requirements, and strategy.

Brisbane, Australia

An independent spinoff company from Alchemia and a continuation of previous work with an increase in CRO collaboration.High degree of autonomy. Close associations with various CROs for assay and medicinal chemistry needs. In vitro pharmacological profiling to support hit-to-lead optimisation of small molecule compounds targeting sodium channel voltage-sensors for treatment of peripheral pain.

Brisbane, Australia

A joint academic/biotech collaboration to develop small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of pain via targeting voltage gated ion channels. My role involved HTS and hit-to-lead selection of a dynamic small molecule synthetic library utilising a unique carbohydrate-based scaffold designed off the VAST (Versatile Assembly on Stable Templates) technology platform. Techniques included cell based fluorescent FLIPR assays, QPatch HTS electrophysiology for hit ID and hit-to-lead optimization, and in vivo behavioral models of pain. A small workforce required independent project management and CRO collaboration to meet tight deadlines of project goals and drive progress.As Alchemia delisted (ASX:ACL) VAST Bioscience developed as an independent spinoff company.

Brisbane, Australia

Institute of Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, AustraliaAdvisor - Richard J. LewisDiscovery via activity guided RP-HPLC fractionation, production, NMR structural determination, and pharmacological characterization of novel peptides extracted from Cone Snail and Spider Venoms. Primary project focused on characterization of novel spider venom peptide, Pre1a, with unique pharmacology on voltage gated sodium channels (Nav). The project involved structural and electrophysiological characterization of the peptide and it's molecular target, the Nav voltage sensor. Additional work included peptide production via bacterial recombinant expression, design of Pre1a mutants, NMR solution structure of Pre1a, cell based fluorescent reporter assays, and the design of in vivo studies conducted via collaboration. Successfully determined individual residues on Pre1a required for specificity across the Nav family through structure guided mutagenesis and activity studies. Also discovered a novel binding region of the Nav channel and the unique ability of Pre1a to bind multiple sites across Nav family members.Other activities included frequent talks, seminars, and presentation of results internally and at global conferences. Training and mentorship of students, as well as tutoring at the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, UQ. Scientific dive collections and organization of field trips. Member of the IMB student association.

Greater San Diego Area

Developed and implemented biological assays testing novel marine natural products from algae as potential treatments for cancer and neuropathy. Maintained and developed collaborations with industry and academic partners for the purpose of expanding screening capabilities and compound libraries as well as developing compounds for future therapeutics.Further responsibilities included training of staff and students, algae culture, scientific diving, small molecule fractionation, and introduction to NMR analysis.

Greater San Diego Area

Worked as part of the Ion Channels R&D team to develop, validate and implement cell-based voltage gated ion channel assays for transfer to HTS. Primary responsibilities included assay development using fluorescent reporters of ion flux or membrane potential changes on a FLIPR and eVIPR (proprietary equipment for electric field stimulation, EFS), or electrophysiology recordings on an IonWorks Barracuda and Port-a-Patch. Introduction to manual patch clamp methods.Other responsibilities included stable cell line generation, SoP documentation, use of ELN, internal reporting and presentation of results, and new target assessment.

San Diego State University

Primary focus on protein mediated cell-signaling cascades affecting cardiac apoptosis and degeneration post infarction or related to cardiomyopathy. Used a variety of molecular biology and immuno-fluorescent imaging methods to determine specific activity of signaling proteins in cardiac apoptosis models.

Phd, Neuropharmacology Of Venom Peptides Targeting Nav Channels

Activities and Societies: 2009-2012 -- Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2010-2013 -- The Australasian Society.

B.Sc., Cell And Molecular Biology