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Scientist Profile

Maureen Beresini

Senior Scientist, Technology
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"We are building a significant portfolio of projects at various stages to fuel the small molecule pipeline."

I joined Genentech in 1992 because of its reputation for outstanding science. What impressed me most when I arrived was the strongly collaborative relationships that quickly developed among my colleagues. I feel fortunate that my position has allowed me to connect my past experiences in protein chemistry as a graduate student, cell biology as a postdoctoral fellow, and assay development gained in industry.

The past 20 years have continued to provide me with opportunities to learn and grow scientifically while allowing me to contribute to the discovery of small molecule therapeutics. It has been extremely rewarding to be a part of the growth and development of the small molecule organization from one that makes potent, selective molecules to one that makes drugs that benefit patients.

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My Focus

My group develops and provides biochemical and cellular assays to promote the discovery of small molecule therapeutics. We use these assays for high-throughput screening, compound profiling, and establishing structure-activity relationships. We have also established state-of-the-art, high-throughput automated systems for managing compounds and conducting assays.

We explore and integrate new technologies for assays and automation that improve data quality, increase information content, and streamline processes. We collaborate both internally and externally to build informatics capabilities that facilitate process management and data analysis.

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My Interests

Outside of work, I enjoy running, playing soccer, gardening, and cooking.

 
Publications & Recognition
  • Case studies of minimizing nonspecific inhibitors in HTS campaigns that use assay-ready plates.
  • J Biomol Screen. 2012 Feb;17(2):225-36. Epub 2011 Sep 22.
  • Liu Y, Beresini MH, Johnson A, Mintzer R, Shah K, Clark K, Schmidt S, Lewis C, Liimatta M, Elliott LO, Gustafson A, Heise CE.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Identification of IgG(1) variants with increased affinity to Fc(Gamma)RIIIa and unaltered affinity to Fc(Gamma)RI and FcRn: Comparison of soluble receptor-based and cell-based binding assays.
  • Journal of Immunological Methods (2011) 365:1-2 (132-141).
  • Lu Y, Vernes JM, Chiang N, Ou Q, Ding J, Adams C, Hong K, Truong BT, Ng D, Shen A, Nakamura G, Gong Q, Presta LG, Beresini M, Kelley B, Lowman H, Wong WL, Meng YG.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Competition between intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and a small-molecule antagonist for a common binding site on the alphal subunit of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1
  • Protein Sci 2006 Feb; 15(2): 290-303
  • Keating SM, Clark KR, Stefanich LD, Arellano F, Edwards CP, Bodary SC, Spencer SA, Gadek TR, Marsters JC Jr, Beresini MH
  • View Abstract on PubMed
 
View All Publications & Recognition
 
  • University of California, San Francisco, Cancer Research Institute
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
  • 1985-1987
  • University of California, Davis
  • Ph.D. Biological Chemistry
  • 1985
  • University of Santa Clara
  • B.Sci. Biology
  • 1980
Publications & Recognition
  • Case studies of minimizing nonspecific inhibitors in HTS campaigns that use assay-ready plates.
  • J Biomol Screen. 2012 Feb;17(2):225-36. Epub 2011 Sep 22.
  • Liu Y, Beresini MH, Johnson A, Mintzer R, Shah K, Clark K, Schmidt S, Lewis C, Liimatta M, Elliott LO, Gustafson A, Heise CE.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Identification of IgG(1) variants with increased affinity to Fc(Gamma)RIIIa and unaltered affinity to Fc(Gamma)RI and FcRn: Comparison of soluble receptor-based and cell-based binding assays.
  • Journal of Immunological Methods (2011) 365:1-2 (132-141).
  • Lu Y, Vernes JM, Chiang N, Ou Q, Ding J, Adams C, Hong K, Truong BT, Ng D, Shen A, Nakamura G, Gong Q, Presta LG, Beresini M, Kelley B, Lowman H, Wong WL, Meng YG.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Competition between intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and a small-molecule antagonist for a common binding site on the alphal subunit of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1
  • Protein Sci 2006 Feb; 15(2): 290-303
  • Keating SM, Clark KR, Stefanich LD, Arellano F, Edwards CP, Bodary SC, Spencer SA, Gadek TR, Marsters JC Jr, Beresini MH
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • A selective, slow binding inhibitor of factor VIIa binds to a nonstandard active site conformation and attenuates thrombus formation in vivo
  • J Biol Chem 2005 Mar 11; 280(10): 9160-9
  • Olivero AG, Eigenbrot C, Goldsmith R, Robarge K, Artis DR, Flygare J, Rawson T, Sutherlin DP, Kadkhodayan S, Beresini M, Elliott LO, DeGuzman GG, Banner DW, Ultsch M, Marzec U, Hanson SR, Refino C, Bunting S, Kirchhofer D
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • N-Benzoyl amino acids as ICAM/LFA-1 inhibitors. Part 2: Structure-activity relationship of the benzoyl moiety.
  • Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2004) 14:9 (2055-2059).
  • Burdick DJ, Marsters JC Jr, Aliagas-Martin I, Stanley M, Beresini M, Clark K, McDowell RS, Gadek TR.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Phosphate ester serum albumin affinity tags greatly improve peptide half-life in vivo
  • Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2003 May 5; 13(9): 1513-5
  • Zobel K, Koehler MF, Beresini MH, Caris LD, Combs D
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • N-benzoyl amino acids as LFA-1/ICAM inhibitors 1: Amino acid structure-activity relationship.
  • Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2003) 13:6 (1015-1018).
  • Burdick DJ, Paris K, Weese K, Stanley M, Beresini M, Clark K, McDowell RS, Marsters JC, Gadek TR.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Albumin affinity tags increase peptide half-life in vivo
  • Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2002 Oct 21; 12(20): 2883-6
  • Koehler MF, Zobel K, Beresini MH, Caris LD, Combs D, Paasch BD, Lazarus RA
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Solid-phase synthesis of dual (alpha)(4)(beta)(1)/(alpha)(4)(beta)(7) integrin antagonists: Two scaffolds with overlapping pharmacophores.
  • Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2002) 12:20 (2913-2917).
  • Castanedo GM, Sailes FC, Dubree NJ, Nicholas JB, Caris L, Clark K, Keating SM, Beresini MH, Chiu H, Fong S, Marsters JC Jr, Jackson DY, Sutherlin DP.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • A slow release formulation of insulin as a treatment for osteoarthritis.
  • Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (2002) 10:9 (692-706).
  • Cai L, Okumu FW, Cleland JL, Beresini M, Hogue D, Lin Z, Filvaroff EH.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Selective (alpha)4(beta)7 integrin antagonists and their potential as antiinflammatory agents.
  • Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2002) 45:16 (3451-3457)
  • Dubree NJ, Artis DR, Castanedo G, Marsters J, Sutherlin D, Caris L, Clark K, Keating SM, Beresini MH, Chiu H, Fong S, Lowman HB, Skelton NJ, Jackson DY.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • ANGPTL3 stimulates endothelial cell adhesion and migration via integrin (alpha)(v)(beta)(3) and induces blood vessel formation in vivo.
  • Journal of Biological Chemistry (2002) 277:19 (17281-17290).
  • Camenisch G, Pisabarro MT, Sherman D, Kowalski J, Nagel M, Hass P, Xie MH, Gurney A, Bodary S, Liang XH, Clark K, Beresini M, Ferrara N, Gerber HP.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Generation of an LFA-1 antagonist by the transfer of the ICAM-1 immunoregulatory epitope to a small molecule
  • Science 2002 Feb 8; 295(5557): 1086-9
  • Gadek TR, Burdick DJ, McDowell RS, Stanley MS, Marsters JC Jr, Paris KJ, Oare DA, Reynolds ME, Ladner C, Zioncheck KA, Lee WP, Gribling P, Dennis MS, Skelton NJ, Tumas DB, Clark KR, Keating SM, Beresini MH, Tilley JW, Presta LG, Bodary SC
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Putting the pieces together: contribution of fluorescence polarization assays to small-molecule lead optimization Proc
  • SPIE-Int. Soc. Opt. Eng 2000; 3913: 128-137
  • Keating SM, Marsters J, Beresini M, Ladner C, Zioncheck K,Clark K, Arellano F, Bodary S
  • Transfer of a protein binding epitope to a minimal designed peptide
  • Biopolymers 1998; 47(4): 265-75
  • Quan C, Skelton NJ, Clark K, Jackson DY, Renz ME, Chiu HH, Keating SM, Beresini MH, Fong S, Artis DR
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Synthesis and screening of linear and cyclic oligocarbamate libraries. Discovery of high affinity ligands for GPIIb/IIIa
  • J Am Chem Soc 1998; 120(31): 7706-7718
  • Cho CY, Youngquist RS, Paikoff SJ, Beresini MH, Hebert AR, Berleau LT, Liu CW, Wemmer DE, Keough T, Schultz PG
  • Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and tolerability of a potent, non-peptidic, GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist following multiple oral administrations of a prodrug form.
  • Thrombosis and Haemostasis (1998) 79:1 (169-176).
  • Refino CJ, Modi NB, Bullens S, Pater C, Lipari MT, Robarge K, Blackburn B, Beresini M, Weller T, Steiner B, Bunting S.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • High-throughput screening assays for small molecule agonists and antagonists of the neurotrophin receptors.
  • In High Throughput Screening: The Discovery of Bioactive Substances (Devlin JP, ed pp. 329-343, New York, Marcel Dekker, Inc.) (1997).
  • Beresini M H, Sadick MD, Galloway AL, Yen R, Yeh SH, Chang AC, Shelton DL,.Wong, W LT
  • Orally active fibrinogen receptor antagonists. 2. Amidoximes as prodrugs of amidines.
  • Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (1996) 39:16 (3139-3147).
  • Weller T, Alig L, Beresini M, Blackburn B, Bunting S, Hadvary P, Muller MH, Knopp D, Levet-Trafit B, Lipari MT, Modi NB, Muller M, Refino CJ, Schmitt M, Schonholzer P, Weiss S, Steiner B.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Alpha-subunit of farnesyltransferase is phosphorylated in vivo: effect of protein phosphatase-1 on enzymatic activity
  • Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1996 May 15; 222(2): 445-52
  • Kumar A, Beresini MH, Dhawan P, Mehta KD
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Evaluation of EMIT Cyclosporine Assay for use with whole blood
  • Clin Chem 1993 Nov; 39(11 Pt 1): 2235-41
  • Beresini MH, Davalian D, Alexander S, Toton-Quinn R, Barnett B, Cerelli MJ, Hu MW, Berger DE, Blohm WP, Jaklitsch A
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Synergistic induction of polypeptides by tumor necrosis factor and interferon-gamma in cells sensitive or resistant to tumor necrosis factor: Assessment by computer based analysis of two-dimensional gels using the PDQUEST system.
  • Electrophoresis (1990) 11:3 (232-241).
  • Beresini MH, Sugarman BJ, Shepard HM, Epstein LB.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Polypeptides induced in normal and malignant cells by lymphokines and monokines: Computer based analysis using the PDQUEST system.
  • In Peptides: Target for New Drug Development (SR Bloom and G Burnstock, eds), London, IBC (1989).
  • Epstein L.B. Beresini M.H. Chen K. Harris C.A. Smith D.M.
  • Overlapping polypeptide induction in human fibroblasts in response to treatment with interferon-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin 1 alpha, interleukin 1 beta, and tumor necrosis factor
  • J Immunol 1988 Jan 15; 140(2): 485-93
  • Beresini MH, Lempert MJ, Epstein LB
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • New relationships among IFN-gamma, TNF and IL-1: Cellular and biochemical effects.
  • In The Biology of the Interferon System (K. Cantell, H. Schellekens, eds.), Dordrecht, Martinus-Jijhoff, pp. 231-235 (1987).
  • Epstein L.B. Philip R. Beresini M.H. Lempert M.J.
  • Use of a solid-phase photoaffinity reagent to label a steroid binding site: application to the delta 5-3-ketosteroid isomerase of Pseudomonas testosteroni
  • Biochemistry 1985 Dec 17; 24(26): 7511-6
  • Hearne M, Benisek WF
  • View Abstract on PubMed
  • Modifications of (Delta)(5)-3-ketosteroid isomerase induced by ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of the solid-phase photoaffinity reagent (Delta)(6)-testosterone agarose.
  • Journal of Protein Chemistry (1984) 3:1 (87-97).
  • Hearne M, Benisek WF.
  • Photoaffinity modification of delta 5-3-ketosteroid isomerase by light-activatable steroid ketones covalently coupled to agarose beads.
  • Biochemistry (1983) 22:10 (2537-2544).
  • Hearne M, Benisek WF.
  • View Abstract on PubMed
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Awards & Honors
  • American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship - 1986
  • National Institutes of Health Training Grant - 1981-1984
  • Earl C. Anthony Fellowship, University of California, Davis - 1980
  • Phi Beta Kappa Membership Awarded - 1980
  • California State Scholarship - 1976-1980
 
Patents

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.