Robert Ivey Email & Phone Number

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

IveyStar provides technical strategies customized to each client’s priorities and goals. We identify and set priorities to ensure innovative research development and efficient commercialization to generate reduced operating costs and optimized work streams while establishing appropriate policies to meet regulatory demands. Ultimately, our clients realize minimized return on investment times, maximized profitability and expanded market shares. Part time travel available.Provided strategic analysis for fermentation plant operations, relocation and modular plant expansion. Established R&D program to generate multiple fermentation product lines at minimal construction, equipment and operating expense. Re-tooled failing biotech production facility to successfully generate even wider range of fermentation products.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

Continuation of diabetes research from Scientist II position (see below)Elucidated molecular mechanisms for autoinhibition and activation of the central biomarker for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Generated viral and bacterial expression systems for multiple proteins involved in the laboratory’s research. Updated and optimized the majority of the laboratory’s common techniques and protocols to increase efficiency and productivity

Sarasota, Florida Area

Directly managed multiple teams performing production scale microbial fermentation and downstream culture processing. Evaluated and upgraded equipment, modernized processes, established manufacturing performance benchmarks for new products. Interfaced with other department heads for logistical management and product development. Served on the company's Executive Committee.Characterized and scaled up several novel microbial culture products. Elevated quality and increased productivity of manufacturing equipment. Overhauled Standard Operating Procedures and Manufacturing Procedures. Improved growth and recovery yields of many microbial products. Implemented a manufacturing information system.

Sarasota, Florida Area

Advised Quality Control and Manufacturing personnel to improve production processes. Evaluated culture production, oversight and management as well as product formulation protocols and equipment and implemented appropriate changes. Directed laboratory and pilot scale microbial fermentation trials and culture production.

Sarasota, Florida Area

Designed and excecuted multiple lines of experimentation concerning Diabetes mellitus type 2 and its precursor, Metabolic Syndrome. Negotiated third party contracting and ensured proper Quality Control testing of experimental therapeutic compounds.Accomplishments: Generated multiple expression systems of several Diabetes-related proteins along with respective libraries of genetic mutants for in vivo and in vitro examination.

Sarasota, Florida Area

Managed Drug Product Manufacturing and Discovery Biology for Archer CPS. Established drug formulation development, manufacture, and analysis of immediate and modified release formulations of novel therapeutics. Collaborated with Archer biologists to screen and validate novel drug compounds and targets. Developed analytical methods for small molecule isolation and characterization for drug discovery and conventional quality control tests required for drug substance and drug product release and stability. Prepared Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls sections for regulatory filings.Accomplishments: Designed, set up and organized facilities for manufacturing and Quality Control analysis of GMP-compliant drug substances and products. Directed formulation development and Phase I manufacture of drug products for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Established and maintained GMP-compliant protocols for manufacturing and analysis of drug substances and products.

Sarasota, Florida Area

Directed preliminary phases of a proteomics pipeline for biomarker identification and drug discovery for Alzheimer’s disease and drug addiction. Designed pilot targeting studies of proteins for drug development through small molecule and macromolecular isolation and biochemical, bioinformatic, and structural characterization techniques. Developed and validated novel in vitro assays for high throughput screening of therapeutic compounds.Accomplishments: Established enrichment protocols for high through-put proteomics analysis. Contributed to awarded grant and contract applications. Isolated and chemically characterized several therapeutic compounds that were soon patented.

Greater Memphis Area

Developed multidisciplinary projects dealing with novel antibiotic design and characterization of rheumatoid arthritis. Cloned and mutated genes, expressed and purified proteins, crystallized them, and solved their three-dimensional molecular structures in apo form or bound to small molecule or peptide ligands. Directed junior scientists in parts of these projects.Accomplishments: Deduced the catalytic mechanism of action of an enzyme which lead to several improvements in antibiotic design. Rationalized 10 years' data in primary literature describing a root cause of rheumatoid arthritis.

Kingstree, Sc

In Clemson University's Cooperative Education Program, participated in the design, construction, and operation of a pilot-scale, continuous plug flow yeast fermentation system. Drafted bioreactor plans and performed proof-of-principle plug flow reactor design experiments. Operated and maintained multi-stage, continuous flow, multi-grain yeast fermentation systems. Organized, processed, and analyzed large quantities of yeast fermentation data in longitudinal optimization studies.Accomplishments: Developed manufacturing protocols which maximized ethanol yield and equipment productivity. Minimized manufacturing costs while maintaining maximum yields in multi-grain fermentations. Developed multi-variant approach to fermentation optimization for ethanol production.

Ph.D., Biochemistry

Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, “Characterization of Chloroplast Transit Peptides and the Major Stromal Hsp70.

Bs, Biochemistry

Activities and Societies: Cooperative Education Program Senior Research Thesis: Cosmid Library Screening for Regulatory Genes Involved.