Mukhtar Ahmed Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Palo Alto, California, Us

Leading strategic portfolio development and cross-functional execution of drug development initiatives focused on inflammatory diseases, delivering significant value through: • Pipeline Acceleration: Drove GSB-D300 series (patent pending; inventor) from discovery through preclinical development, achieving 75% IND-enabling work completion 6 months ahead of schedule while optimizing $2M budget. • Clinical Development Leadership: Successfully launched and managed 4 international Phase 1b/2a clinical trials for ATTR/heart failure (NCT06501768, NCT06634108) and chronic pancreatitis programs. Led development of clinical protocols and investigator's brochure. • Strategic Growth: Secured Series A funding through compelling business cases, resulting in successful launch of two spinout companies. Created actionable product roadmaps integrating clinical insights and competitive analyses. • Operational Excellence: Orchestrated comprehensive IND-enabling program spanning pharmacology, DMPK, toxicology, and CMC studies, ensuring FDA/ICH compliance. • Partnership Development: Built strategic collaborations with biotech firms and CROs while strengthening internal capabilities through key technical hires. • IP Strategy: Managed intellectual property protection through strategic patent applications and portfolio development

Palo Alto, California, Us

Directed drug discovery and development efforts, integrating cutting-edge science with business growth strategies. Focused on securing funding, optimizing market-entry strategies, and executing financial planning to drive company expansion.Key Achievements: • Secured $4.1M in federal funding, including $2.75M from NIH and $1.35M from CIRM, advancing critical iPSC and "Clinical Trial in a Dish" projects. • Developed and implemented market-entry strategies for GSB Biobank, aligning business models with commercial goals to maximize market impact. • Led preclinical studies and clinical trial setups, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency for accelerated trial initiation.

Stanford, Ca, Us

As a Visiting Scholar at Stanford, I leverage this affiliation to stay at the forefront of academic research and innovation, working alongside world-class academic leaders. This role complements my primary position at Greenstone Biosciences, enabling me to remain deeply engaged with emerging scientific advancements and insights that shape the biotech landscape.Collaborate with top-tier researchers on cutting-edge drug discovery initiatives targeting inflammatory diseases such as pancreatitis, heart failure, obesity, and inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis). Contribute to setting up clinical trials and advancing translational research efforts.

Provided executive guidance on biotech business development, focusing on protein engineering and strategic growth initiatives.Key Achievements:• Supported the CEO in securing research space at QB3-Berkeley and helped develop the company’s growth strategy, positioning it for long-term success.• Leveraged expertise in biotech R&D to advise on scientific and technical aspects, helping inform partnership decisions and product development.

Nashville, Tennessee, Us

I continued to deepen my expertise in cell biology through advanced single-molecule studies, focusing on the spatial configurations and dynamics of macromolecular protein complexes employing quantitative imaging and advanced data analysis techniques.Key Achievements:• Led studies on protein complex dynamics, employing single-molecule imaging and quantitative proteomics to uncover new insights into cellular mechanisms.• Published the identification of two EXOC2 gene mutations in patients, contributing significant insights to the field and advancing knowledge on the intricate balances in membrane trafficking during human development.• Mentored Ph.D. students, creating a collaborative and research-driven environment. My guidance enabled students to explore cutting-edge scientific questions, preparing them for successful careers in academia and industry.• Cultivated a robust network of collaborations, engaging with leading scientists across disciplines to enhance the scope and impact of our research.This role was instrumental in bridging my scientific expertise with my current executive leadership responsibilities, where I continue to influence drug discovery and development strategies.

Nashville, Tennessee, Us

During my postdoctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt, I conducted pioneering research that bridged fundamental cell biology with therapeutic development, shaping my trajectory toward strategic leadership in the biotechnology industry.Key Achievements:• Established CRISPR gene-edited cell lines by tagging endogenous exocyst subunits, leading to breakthroughs in single-molecule imaging techniques. This innovation enabled the study of macromolecular complex dynamics in living cells—methodologies now utilized in drug discovery processes.• Introduced and led the lab's efforts in single-molecule imaging, enabling real-time study of protein complexes through fluorescent tagging of endogenous proteins. This work advanced our understanding of membrane trafficking and cell polarity, critical processes underlying various disease mechanisms.• Authored 4 high-impact publications. These publications significantly advanced knowledge of membrane trafficking and cell polarity.• Deepened insights into disease mechanisms, particularly in cancer and neurodegeneration, by translating fundamental cell biology discoveries into potential target identification for therapeutic interventions.

Toronto, Ontario, Ca

• Broke new grounds on the mechanisms of cell migration, invasion, and adhesion, focusing on cancer biology and inflammation. Utilized functional proteomics to discover a novel interactor between heterotrimeric G proteins and small G proteins, illuminating new aspects of integrin-mediated cell adhesion and motility.• Identified and characterized the role of Gbetagamma subunits in integrin activation, revealing their influence on cell behavior in an inside-out signaling fashion.• Expanded the scope of research in collaboration with Prof. Sachdev Sidhu to employ phage display techniques and identified The work provided a mechanism explaining how KIF14 contributes to cancer progression and metastasis in breast cancer.• Developed a purification technique to isolate functional sodium-potassium ATPase (Na,K-ATPase) in a separate collaborative project. Using functional proteomics, identified glutamate transporters coupling to Na,K-ATPase, demonstrating that these proteins form macromolecular complexes and operate as a functional unit to regulate glutamatergic neurotransmission.• Contributed to 9 publications, showcasing significant findings that have broadened the scientific community’s understanding of molecular interactions in cancer pathways.• Laid a strong foundation for a career dedicated to basic and translational research, with ongoing implications for therapeutic strategies and target identification.

Chevy Chase, Maryland, Us

• Developed a retroviral delivery system to study protein-protein interactions in live cells using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation Assays (BiFC), advancing the understanding of transcription regulation mechanisms.• Created innovative tools for investigating protein signaling pathways, contributing to breakthroughs in live-cell imaging and molecular biology research.• Refined techniques for exploring transcription factor regulation in real-time, significantly enhancing methods for studying cellular processes in live cells.• Deepened expertise in molecular and cell biology, laying the groundwork for a broader scientific career and shaping an approach to translational research and experimental design.

Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, Us

• Contributed to foundational preclinical research on neuroprotective therapies, developing key expertise in translational research and drug development.• Investigated therapies aimed at mitigating motor response complications in Parkinson’s disease, advancing treatment approaches for neurodegenerative disorders.• Assisted in the preclinical testing of Pfizer's NMDA receptor NR2B subunit antagonist (CP 101,606) to reduce chronic L-DOPA-mediated motor response complications in rodent Parkinsonism models.• Built a strong foundation in translational research that informed future work in drug discovery and development.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Leslie Dan Faculty Of Pharmacy

Executive Business Analytics

Vanderbilt Program In Molecular Medicine, Translational Medicine

Certificates, Business | Management | Leadership (Continuous Education)

Bachelor Of Science | Cum Laude, Behavioral Neuroscience And Psychology

Education record