Thomas Ott Email & Phone Number

San Diego, Ca, Us

Led the R&D team that developed the Savanna platform and Respiratory Virus Panel 4 (RVP4), the first Savanna product sold in Europe. Oversaw FDA submissions for RVP4+ emergency use and 510(k) applications, with 510(k) approval of the Savanna platform in December 2023. Key contributor to the development of lab software and database tools.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Led the development of the Solana (real-time HDA assay) and early-stage Savanna (PCR-based, sample-to-result) platforms, managing process transfer to production and QC. Directed research teams in the creation of assay content, while overseeing hardware and software development. Led COVID-19 assay development for the Lyra and Lyra Direct platforms, achieving EUA clearance and CE marking in under 7 months.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Project lead for the development of Lyra Direct and two AmpliVue assays (Group B Streptococcus and Bordetella). The AmpliVue tests combine simple sample processing from Lyra Direct with isothermal helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) and a self-contained, disposable ELISA-based detection device. Both AmpliVue assays and multiple Lyra Direct products received 510(k) clearance, CE marking, and are sold worldwide.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Key contributor to the development of the first Lyra test kits for detecting Influenza A+B and C. difficile, including a novel, cost-effective sample preparation kit for the C. difficile Lyra Direct test. Both tests received CE marking and FDA approval. Led the development of five additional Lyra test kits, all achieving FDA approval and CE marking, with assays approved on multiple platforms. Evaluated external assay technologies for Business Development initiatives.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Led the development of a microfluidic PCR device with electric potential detection for Molecular Diagnostics at the Point of Care.

San Diego, California, Us

Co-authored the first grant application for Crinetics Pharmaceuticals.

San Diego, California, Us

My work primarily focused on advancing early GPCR hits from HTS screens to drug candidates by developing assays in appropriate cell backgrounds to identify compounds suitable for animal testing and potential clinical development. This process involved cloning and mutating genes for expression in eukaryotic cell lines and harvesting tissues to characterize lead compounds in vitro.I researched M1 ligand characteristics, including off-rates and coupling efficiencies, and mutated the orthosteric binding site to investigate ligand-receptor interactions, including ERK phosphorylation assays.In early work, I identified and cloned MrgX receptors from multiple species and developed assays to measure GTP-γS exchange in response to low-affinity ligands.Findings from these studies were reported in the following publications:Bradley S.R., et al. (2010) Neuropharmacology. 58(2): pp. 365-73.Pettersson H., et al.(2009) J Med Chem. 52(7): pp. 1975-82.Spalding T.A., et al.(2006) Mol Pharmacol. 70(6): pp. 1974-83Vanover et al. (2006) J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 317(2): pp. 910-8Ott T.R., et al. (2006) Receptors. Br J Pharmacol 147(1): pp. 73-82.

San Diego, California, Us

Identified residues on CC chemokine receptor 7 and its agonists involved in high-affinity ligand binding and receptor activation. This required developing assay systems, including cAMP and various reporter assays. I optimized an electroporation protocol for large-scale transient transfections of mammalian cell lines to perform GTP-γS and radioligand binding assays, while FACS was used to assess receptor surface expression. I set up a high-throughput chemotaxis assay and used Western blotting to identify key residues in the N-terminal domain of CCL-19 that activate proteins in the MAP kinase pathway. Later, my research focused on residues in the CCL-19 N-terminus important for β-arrestin recruitment using BRET, desensitization, and dimerization. I also contributed to optimizing protocols for high-throughput adaptation.Findings from these studies were reported in the following publications:Ott T.R., et al. (2006) Biochem Biophys Res Comm 348(3): pp1089-93Ott T.R., et al. (2005) J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 51(2): pp. 105-14. Epub 2004 Nov 5Ott T.R., et al. (2004) J Biol Chem 279(41): pp. 42383-92. Epub 2004 Jul 28Ott T.R., et al. (2004) Biochemistry 43(12): pp. 3670-78

Identified key ligand residues crucial for activity at the GnRH II receptor using radioligand binding, desensitization, and internalization assays. Investigated GnRH II receptor expression in various tissues through RNA protection assays, quantitative PCR, and Western blotting.Findings from these studies were reported in two publications:Millar R.P., Lowe S., Conklin D., Pawson A., Maudsley S., Troskie B., Ott T., Millar M., Lincoln G., Sellar R., Faurholm B., Scobie G., Kuestner R., Teresawa E. and Katz A. (2001) A novel mammalian receptor for the evolutionarily conserved type II GnRH. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98: pp. 9636-41Morgan K., Conklin D., Pawson A. J., Sellar R., Ott T.R. and Millar R.P. (2003) A human type II gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor gene homologue overlaps two genes in the antisense orientation on chromosome 1.q11. Endocrinology 144(2): pp. 423-36

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Chemical Pathology Specializing In Molecular Biology

Matrik And Abitur