Tom Dougherty Email & Phone Number

Massachusetts, United States

Retired. Consulting with biotech companies and Carb-X. Specializing in development of therapeutics for Infectious diseases. Designing phenotypic bacterial cell-based screens to identify targeted inhibitors of essential pathways. Research strategies and planning for moving programs from initial hit to lead to preclinical development phase prior to IND filing. Carb-X proposal evaluation group. 2016-present (Website: http://www.carb-x.org). Carb-X's mission is to accelerate a diverse portfolio of at least 20 high-quality antibacterial products towards clinical development

Longwood Medical Area, Boston, Ma.

-Research program in the Dept. of Microbiology & Immunobiology as an externally funded program for a novel approach to Gram negative pathogen therapy. Focus is primarily on genetic, genomic, RNA-seq, and biochemical approaches to novel therapeutics for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Gram negative pathogens by disrupting lipoprotein outer membrane assembly machinery. Cloning, overproduction and isolation of LolCDE complex from E. coli and Pseudomonas. Work performed in the laboratory of Dr. Stephen Lory. (See our publications: J. Bacteriology 198: 3162-3175. 2016. mBio March/April 2019 Volume 10 Issue 2 e00194-19. 2019. J. Bacteriol. 202: e00452-20. 2020)-Editorial Board. Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy. American Society for Microbiology journal. 2005-present.-Presented three lectures on new antibiotic discovery, round table discussion on drug development challenges, & numerous student discussions in the new 9 day International Course on Antibiotics & Resistance (ICARe), sponsored by Pasteur Institute and the Foundation Merieux. Held at BioMerieux facility Les Pensières in Annecy, France. -ICARe Course participation & Course Scientific Committee work in Annecy, France in 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019.-Pew Charitable Trust- Part of small Pew sponsored group formulating a document on Scientific Priorities for Antibiotic Discovery. Roadmap to revitalize antibiotic R&D in light of multiply drug resistant bacteria on the rise worldwide. Working group held in Washington DC. January 2015-ongoing. Document issued May 11, 2016.

Waltham, Ma.

Member of the Infection Group Research Management Team (RMT) that consisted of VP, Head of Chemistry, Head of Biosciences, Head of DMPK, Senior Chemist and myself as Senior Bioscientist. RMT reviewed ongoing project team activities and program progress in regular meetings. I established and led the 8 person Cell Based Phenotypic Screening Team. This effort set up novel genetic screening systems in Gram negatives. (see: J. Bacteriol. 197:1726–1734. 2015). I also was a member of the Licensing Team, and on teams that in licensed Ceftaroline with Forest Labs and the team that acquired Novexel assets (including Avibactam (NXL-104) novel beta-lactamase inhibitor). Co-lead on collaboration with CrystalGenomics (Korea) for Gram positive FabI program.The laboratory group I led conducted studies on microbial genetics, genomics, & physiology in Gram negative pathogens (e.g., E. coli, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter) to support candidate drug discovery & development programs. A novel Gram negative topoisomerase inhibitor (NBTI 5463) was the focus of much of this effort. (for program publications, see: Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 58:2657-2664, Bioorg. Med. Chem. 22: 5392–5409, and Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 59: 331-337).

Groton, Ct.

Research Fellow in Antibacterial Biology. I was Biology Team Leader of a macrolide/ketolide program for community-based respiratory tract infections. My laboratory performed resistance support studies in pneumococci employing genetics, genomics and enzymology studies. The lab also supported the ribosome X-ray crystallography efforts within the discovery program. The team nominated a novel ketolide compound for Development 12/04, and I prepared the formal nomination data document. I also wrote the preclinical primary Pharmacology section for the 2006 IND submission to the FDA. I was also Project Leader in a program for development of novel MRSA compounds at the time I left Pfizer. The laboratory group I led worked on genetics & physiology of antibiotic resistance and tested novel antibiotic targets (e.g., pneumococcal genetics to support the ketolide program; Gram negative MurC cell wall target). I was part of the Pfizer Infectious Diseases Diagnostics Working Group, and the Discovery representative on the Antibacterial Sourcing and Outreach Team, identifying external licensing opportunities for Pfizer. I was a member of the Vicuron Acquisition Team. In this capacity, I was involved in assessing capabilities and coordinating the Natural Products group outside Milan, Italy with the Pfizer Antibacterial group. I was also on the Scientific Advisory Board for a collaboration with another biotech organization in Singapore to examine novel natural products for antimicrobial leads.Part of team that taught Pharmacology course (Chemistry 300: Medicinal Chemistry) at Connecticut College, New London, CT. (2002, 2004, 2006).

Wallingford, Ct.

My laboratory was responsible for novel antibacterial screens and mechanisms of action and resistance for two beta-lactam antibiotic programs (cefepime, cefprozil). Conducted penicillin binding protein affinity studies and cell wall synthesis assays in Gram negative pathogens for these compounds. Biology lead on oral novel class antibiotic program. I was also on the garenoxicin quinolone team, performing genetic resistance development studies in pneumococci, and was Discovery Representative on the Gatifloxacin Ph. 3 clinical monitoring program. Co-leader on Microbial Genomics Team (The 18 team members won BMS Pharmaceutical Research Institute President's Award-2000 for this work) which identified potential novel antibiotic targets by bioinformatic analysis of genomes and targeted gene knockouts, and performed subsequent genetic/physiology studies on selected targets for novel antimicrobial discovery. Co-inventor on patent for 113 novel antibiotic gene targets validated during program.Adjunct Associate Professor, Dept. of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. 1991-1996. Co-supervised Ph.D. student in my laboratory.

New York, Ny

Postdoc (1978-81)Assistant Professor (1981-86), Laboratory of Microbiology. Alexander Tomasz, Professor & Head of Laboratory.Biochemistry and genetics of antibiotic resistance mechanisms in the Gram negative pathogenic bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. I was P.I. on an NIH RO1 research grant to support studies on Penicillin Binding Proteins (PBPs-bacterial cell wall synthetic enzymes) beta-lactam antibiotic resistance mechanisms in the gonococcus. This work associated the penA gene for increased penicillin resistance with reduced affinity PBP2, by gene mobilization into a susceptible strain. Established the RP-HPLC high resolution peptidoglycan characterization system to study cell wall structural changes during resistance development. Joint appointment at New York Hospital/Cornell University Medical College in Division of Infectious Diseases, Dept. of Medicine.

Ph.D., Microbiology & Immunology

Minor in biochemistry

B.S., Microbiology