Sheena Mcgowan, Phd Email & Phone Number

San Diego, Ca, Us

San Diego, California, United States

Aurora Bioservices LLC provides contract R&D and consulting services for the Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and Pharmaceutical industries serving both small and large sized organizations. Particular expertise in structural biology, drug discovery, structure-based drug design, microbiology and biochemistry. Specific deliverables include:- Structural biology (crystallography, cryo-EM, computational) & structure-based drug design (ligand design, SAR).- Assay development and screening for hit discovery & hit-2-lead.- Anti-infective / anti-microbial resistance subject matter expertise.- Strategic development and planning for transition from early stage discovery.- Project plans and leadership - Outreach to KOLs, other scientists, and customers.- Funding and Investment (including dilutive and non-dilutive; pitch preparation).- Definition of Product and Product Development.

San Diego, California, United States

Partnering with scientific founders to define early stages of growth and development.Advice and partnership in:- Market Analysis and Positioning- Strategic Planning for R&D Package- Funding and Investment (including dilutive and non-dilutive; pitch preparation)- Definition of Product and Product Development- Risk Management

Providing specialized solutions in structural biology, protein engineering and design, and small molecule discovery and design.

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲The McGowan lab is a multidisciplinary team with expertise in structural biology, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, drug design and computational biology. We study therapeutically important microbial proteins at the atomic level to understand their function.Using this data, we aim to discover lead molecules and guide drug development. 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬𝘈𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴- Program outcomes include Target ID, MoA characterization and target validation; hit discovery > hit-to-lead; compound design and development; assay development + transition to HTS and computational screens; DMPK.- Top compound recognised as on-target by Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV1557817).𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘊. 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 - Inhibition of key proteins in the sporulation pathway blocks spore formation and prevents reccurence in animal models. - Nature Micro, 2019; J Med Chem 2024𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘯𝘴• Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) uses protein toxins in inter-bacterial warfare to persist in healthcare environments.• We characterize the structure & function of new toxins and how Ab deploys them against other bacteria.𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘦𝘯𝘻𝘺𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.• We exploit bacteriophage-encoded enzymes to disarm Klebsiella pneumoniae.• Our goal is to add stable, active enzymes to hospital-grade disinfectants.𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬> 85 peer-reviewed publications (inc. Nature Micro, PNAS; eLife; EMBO J; mBio & J Med Chem).Funding ( ~ $15M) through competitive grants as well as private and public partners (inc MMV, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Lgenia, HitGen, Gingko Bioworks)Supervised 20+ graduate students; formal University teaching (~1000 students/yr)

Co-led vision and strategy for department (19 laboratories; ~ 220 staff / students; annual OpEx ~ $AUD15M) to ensure research excellence (publications in top tier journals, engagement with centres of research excellence, foundation member of other larger University and global initiatives). Undertook conflict resolution and performance development and management for senior staff. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬. 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.- Wrote a successful business case based on data of teaching loads to secure additional OpEx. - Actively recruited outstanding, competitive talent, involved in appointment process and negotiation of support packages.𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵. - Initiated and ran an “Emerging Leaders” program to empower our brightest mid-career scientists to achieve their career goals. - The program had 4 candidates who each secured senior, independent positions within 18 months. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. Laboratory and office space is a constant pain point for Universities! Tasked with ensuring each team had access to the necessary infrastructure (across multiple buildings) to ensure success. 𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. - Undertook open consultation to establish open dialogue with laboratory PIs re their needs.𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴.- Implemented a large scale move of equipment and some teams. Organised support for physical move(s).- Feedback from colleagues was positive and new space arrangements functional. 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐄𝐱. After commencing my role, I realised there was no asset register and no forecast for CapEx. 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘵.- Provided data for accurate CapEx forecast. Prevent downtime due to equipment failure or maintenance.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) incorporates over 120 research teams committed to global health priorities. With over 700 staff and students and an annual research income of over $AUD65M, the BDI is one of the largest and highest quality research institutes in the southern hemisphere. The BDI Industry Engagement (IE) team supported project and alliance management; education and outreach; engagement and networking.Activities include- Liaison between researchers and technology transfer office.- Education and outreach for early career researchers.- Events to raise engagement between researchers and industry stakeholders.- Networking events.- Recruitment and career advice.

San Diego, California, United States

Led product & project management for Genome Writing, one of three core pillars of the company, to define vision, killer application, specifications, and act as voice of customer for Replay’s genome writing service.𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.- Identified areas for innovation and differentiation.- Defined OKRs for product technology.𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 (𝘈𝘙𝘗𝘈-𝘏; 𝘚𝘉𝘐𝘙; 𝘊𝘐𝘙𝘔). - Successful ARPA-H expression of interest; invitation to full proposal ($27M).𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴-𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱. - Transitioned 7 scientists from operating as an academic group to matrixed team. 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵. - Promoted senior scientist to first technical leadership role.𝘖𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺.- Implemented team productivity tools for improved communication and project management.- Coordinated change in data management tools for secure data storage.- Produced policies to steward engagement with external contractors and consultants.

Approached by Replay to provide expertise and guidance to establish a stealth enzyme engineering NewCo. 𝘔𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘙𝘖𝘐. - Performed analysis to outline market landscape, KOL identification and voice of customer. 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴. - Selected target enzymes (4) with scientific founders to (i) evaluate suitability to technology; (ii) map current industry benchmarks; (iii) establish product profiles to improve on current industry standard) and (iv) project/product delivery timelines. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. - Engaged with technology transfer office from founder institution(s).

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Microbiology

Advancing Women In Senior Leadership

Bsc (Biomed) (Hons) (Microbiology)