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Scientist Profile

Dick Vandlen

Staff Scientist: Protein Chemistry
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"Coupling world-class scientists and the best technologies working on medically important problems makes this about the best job that one can have!"
 

I joined Genentech in the spring of 1985 and have been associated with the Protein Chemistry Department almost from the beginning as Director of the department and recently as Staff Scientist. My work has led to the identification of heregulin, a ligand which activates the HER2/HER3/HER4 family of receptor tyrosine kinases, to the development of high-throughput protein refolding and purification processes, and to the development of next generation antibody therapies. I have had the distinct privilege of working with some of the best scientists in the world on many different basic and clinically-relevant projects during this time, including VEGF, IGF-1, the HER2 family members and ligands, Herceptin© (Trastuzumab), and many of the molecules currently in the clinical and pre-clinical testing stages.

 
 
My Focus

The demonstration that highly potent, targeted antibodies, including Avastin© (bevacizumab), Herceptin, and Rituxan© (Rituximab), are really potent weapons in the treatment of multiple kinds of tumors has led to intensive efforts to develop even better therapies based on antibodies. Our group has focused on developing methods to arm our antibodies with cytotoxic drugs using a variety of different linkers, toxins and coupling chemistries. In addition, my group is involved with production and characterization of novel antibody forms, including one-armed and bispecific antibodies, in sufficient quantities to allow detailed biological and pharmacological studies in support of our clinical programs in oncology and immunology.

My group also supports the high throughput small molecule screening effort with the production of highly purified kinases and receptors and with the development of protein inhibitors of tumor-associated proteases.

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Publications & Recognition
  • Cutting edge: novel human dendritic cell- and monocyte-attracting chemokine-like protein identified by fold recognition methods
  • J Immunol 2006 Feb 15; 176(4): 2069-73
  • Pisabarro MT, Leung B, Kwong M, Corpuz R, Frantz GD, Chiang N, Vandlen R, Diehl LJ, Skelton N, Kim HS, Eaton D, Schmidt KN
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Fibroblast growth factor 19 increases metabolic rate and reverses dietary and leptin-deficient diabetes
  • Endocrinology 2004 Jun; 145(6): 2594-603
  • Fu L, John LM, Adams SH, Yu XX, Tomlinson E, Renz M, Williams PM, Soriano R, Corpuz R, Moffat B, Vandlen R, Simmons L, Foster J, Stephan JP, Tsai SP, Stewart TA
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • The secreted protein discovery initiative (SPDI), a large-scale effort to identify novel human secreted and transmembrane proteins: a bioinformatics assessment
  • Genome Res 2003 Oct; 13(10): 2265-70
  • Clark HF, Gurney AL, Abaya E, Baker K, Baldwin D, Brush J, Chen J, Chow B, Chui C, Crowley C, Currell B, Deuel B, Dowd P, Eaton D, Foster J, Grimaldi C, Gu Q, Hass PE, Heldens S, Huang A, Kim HS, Klimowski L, Jin Y, Johnson S, Lee J, Lewis L, Liao D, Mark M, Robbie E, Sanchez C, Schoenfeld J, Seshagiri S, Simmons L, Singh J, Smith V, Stinson J, Vagts A, Vandlen R, Watanabe C, Wieand D, Woods K, Xie MH, Yansura D, Yi S, Yu G, Yuan J, Zhang M, Zhang Z, Goddard A, Wood WI, Godowski P, Gray A
  • View Abstract on PubMed
 
View All Publications & Recognition
 
  • Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Labs
  • Research Fellow
  • 1976-1985
  • California Institute of Technology, Biology Department
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • 1972-1976
  • Michigan State University, Chemistry Department
  • Ph.D.
  • 1969-1972
  • Michigan State University, Chemistry
  • B.S.
  • 1965-1969
Publications & Recognition
  • Cutting edge: novel human dendritic cell- and monocyte-attracting chemokine-like protein identified by fold recognition methods
  • J Immunol 2006 Feb 15; 176(4): 2069-73
  • Pisabarro MT, Leung B, Kwong M, Corpuz R, Frantz GD, Chiang N, Vandlen R, Diehl LJ, Skelton N, Kim HS, Eaton D, Schmidt KN
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Fibroblast growth factor 19 increases metabolic rate and reverses dietary and leptin-deficient diabetes
  • Endocrinology 2004 Jun; 145(6): 2594-603
  • Fu L, John LM, Adams SH, Yu XX, Tomlinson E, Renz M, Williams PM, Soriano R, Corpuz R, Moffat B, Vandlen R, Simmons L, Foster J, Stephan JP, Tsai SP, Stewart TA
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • The secreted protein discovery initiative (SPDI), a large-scale effort to identify novel human secreted and transmembrane proteins: a bioinformatics assessment
  • Genome Res 2003 Oct; 13(10): 2265-70
  • Clark HF, Gurney AL, Abaya E, Baker K, Baldwin D, Brush J, Chen J, Chow B, Chui C, Crowley C, Currell B, Deuel B, Dowd P, Eaton D, Foster J, Grimaldi C, Gu Q, Hass PE, Heldens S, Huang A, Kim HS, Klimowski L, Jin Y, Johnson S, Lee J, Lewis L, Liao D, Mark M, Robbie E, Sanchez C, Schoenfeld J, Seshagiri S, Simmons L, Singh J, Smith V, Stinson J, Vagts A, Vandlen R, Watanabe C, Wieand D, Woods K, Xie MH, Yansura D, Yi S, Yu G, Yuan J, Zhang M, Zhang Z, Goddard A, Wood WI, Godowski P, Gray A
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • IL-17E, a novel proinflammatory ligand for the IL-17 receptor homolog IL-17Rh1
  • J Biol Chem 2001 Jan 12; 276(2): 1660-4
  • Lee J, Ho WH, Maruoka M, Corpuz RT, Baldwin DT, Foster JS, Goddard AD, Yansura DG, Vandlen RL, Wood WI, Gurney AL
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • IL-1H, an interleukin 1-related protein that binds IL-18 receptor/IL-1Rrp
  • Cytokine 2001 Jan 7; 13(1): 1-7
  • Pan G, Risser P, Mao W, Baldwin DT, Zhong AW, Filvaroff E, Yansura D, Lewis L, Eigenbrot C, Henzel WJ, Vandlen R
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Formation of a high affinity heregulin binding site using the soluble extracellular domains of ErbB2 with ErbB3 or ErbB4
  • FEBS Lett 1998 Jul 10; 431(1): 102-6
  • Fitzpatrick VD, Pisacane PI, Vandlen RL, Sliwkowski MX
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Persephin, a novel neurotrophic factor related to GDNF and neurturin
  • Neuron 1998 Feb; 20(2): 245-53
  • Milbrandt J, de Sauvage FJ, Fahrner TJ, Baloh RH, Leitner ML, Tansey MG, Lampe PA, Heuckeroth RO, Kotzbauer PT, Simburger KS, Golden JP, Davies JA, Vejsada R, Kato AC, Hynes M, Sherman D, Nishimura M, Wang LC, Vandlen R, Moffat B, Klein RD, Poulsen K, Gray C, Garces A, Johnson EM
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • A GPI-linked protein that interacts with Ret to form a candidate neurturin receptor
  • Nature 1997 Jun 12; 387(6634): 717-21
  • Klein RD, Sherman D, Ho WH, Stone D, Bennett GL, Moffat B, Vandlen R, Simmons L, Gu Q, Hongo JA, Devaux B, Poulsen K, Armanini M, Nozaki C, Asai N, Goddard A, Phillips H, Henderson CE, Takahashi M, Rosenthal A
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Glycerophosphorylethanolamine (GPEA) identified as an hepatocyte growth stimulator in liver extracts
  • Exp Cell Res 1996 Nov 25; 229(1): 20-6
  • Nelson C, Moffat B, Jacobsen N, Henzel WJ, Stults JT, King KL, McMurtrey A, Vandlen R, Spencer SA
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Identification of ligand binding determinants in the somatostatin receptor subtypes 1 and 2
  • J Biol Chem 1996 Aug 23; 271(34): 20331-9
  • Liapakis G, Fitzpatrick D, Hoeger C, Rivier J, Vandlen R, Reisine T.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • High-level expression and characterization of a purified 142-residue polypeptide of the prion protein
  • Biochemistry 1996 Apr 30; 35(17): 5528-37
  • Mehlhorn I, Groth D, Stöckel J, Moffat B, Reilly D, Yansura D, Willett WS, Baldwin M, Fletterick R, Cohen FE, Vandlen R, Henner D, Prusiner SB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • The carboxyl-terminal domain (111-165) of vascular endothelial growth factor is critical for its mitogenic potency
  • J Biol Chem 1996 Mar 29; 271(13): 7788-95
  • Keyt BA, Berleau LT, Nguyen HV, Chen H, Heinsohn H, Vandlen R, Ferrara N.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • The in vivo bioactivity of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor is independent of N-linked glycosylation
  • Lab Invest 1996 Feb; 74(2): 546-56
  • Walter DH, Hink U, Asahara T, Van Belle E, Horowitz J, Tsurumi Y, Vandlen R, Heinsohn H, Keyt B, Ferrara N, Symes JF, Isner JM
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Decreased food intake does not completely account for adiposity reduction after ob protein infusion
  • Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1996 Feb 20; 93(4): 1726-30
  • Levin N, Nelson C, Gurney A, Vandlen R, de Sauvage F
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons protected by GDNF from axotomy-induced degeneration in the adult brain
  • Nature 1995 Jan 26; 373(6512): 339-41
  • Beck KD, Valverde J, Alexi T, Poulsen K, Moffat B, Vandlen RA, Rosenthal A, Hefti F
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • GDNF: a potent survival factor for motoneurons present in peripheral nerve and muscle
  • Science 1994 Nov 11; 266(5187): 1062-4
  • Henderson CE, Phillips HS, Pollock RA, Davies AM, Lemeulle C, Armanini M, Simmons L, Moffet B, Vandlen RA, Simmons L
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • 6agonist selectivity determinants in somatostatin receptor subtypes I and II
  • J Biol Chem 1994 Oct 7; 269(40): 24621-6.
  • Fitzpatrick VD, Vandlen RL
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Coexpression of erbB2 and erbB3 proteins reconstitutes a high affinity receptor for heregulin
  • J Biol Chem 1994 May 20; 269(20): 14661-5
  • Sliwkowski MX, Schaefer G, Akita RW, Lofgren JA, Fitzpatrick VD, Nuijens A, Fendly BM, Cerione RA, Vandlen RL, Carraway KL
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • The erbB3 gene product is a receptor for heregulin
  • J Biol Chem 1994 May 13; 269(19): 14303-6
  • Carraway KL, Sliwkowski MX, Akita R, Platko JV, Guy PM, Nuijens A, Diamonti AJ, Vandlen RL, Cantley LC, Cerione RA
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Neurotrophin-4/5 is a mammalian-specific survival factor for distinct populations of sensory neurons
  • J Neurosci 1993 Nov; 13(11): 4961-7
  • Davies AM, Horton A, Burton LE, Schmelzer C, Vandlen R, Rosenthal A
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • The purely chronotropic effects of relaxin in the rat isolated heart
  • J Pharm Pharmacol 1993 Oct; 45(10): 927-8
  • Thomas GR, Vandlen R.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Identification of Heregulin, a Specific Activator of p185erbB2
  • Science 1992 256(5060): 1205-1210
  • Holmes WE, Sliwkowski MX, Akita RW, Henzel WJ, Lee J, Park J, D. Yansura, Abadi N, Raab H, Lewis GD, Shepard HM, W-J. Kuang, W.I. Wood, Goeddel DV, Vandlen RL
  • Purification and sequence determination of canine relaxin
  • J Protein Chem 1992 Jun; 11(3): 247-53
  • Stewart DR, Henzel WJ, Vandlen R
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • The disposition of a human relaxin (hRlx-2) in pregnant and nonpregnant rats
  • Pharm Res 1992 Mar; 9(3): 419-24
  • Cossum PA, Dwyer KA, Roth M, Chen SA, Moffat B, Vandlen R, Ferraiolo BL.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Affinity purification and sequence determination of equine relaxin
  • Endocrinology 1991 Jul; 129(1): 375-83
  • Stewart DR, Nevins B, Hadas E, Vandlen R
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • pharmacokinetics and tolerability of a somatostatin analogue (L-363,586) in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • Life Sci 1986 Jun 16; 38(24): 2211-9
  • Gottesman I, Tobert J, Vandlen R, Gerich J. Efficacy
  • View Abstract on PubMed
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Awards & Honors
  • NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship 1974-1976
  • Merit Level Teaching Assistant (for outstanding teaching) 1972
  • American Cancer Society Scholarship 1965
  • Winship Memorial Scholarship 1965-1969

Ellen Filvaroff, Senior Scientist and Alex Avardo, Receipent of Free Medicine From the Genentech® Access to Care Foundation, on the cover of Genentech's 2006 Annual Report.