Michael Varney
Senior Vice President, Research Administration
"I like football more than I like tennis."
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My Keywords
Research Administration -
My Department
Research Administration
I joined Genentech in June of 2005 as vice president, Small Molecule Drug Discovery. In this role I am responsible for all aspects of the small molecule discovery effort, which includes Medicinal chemistry, DMPK, Computational Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Assay Development, High Throughput Screening, Formulation, Analytical Development, and Small Molecule scale-up and process chemistry.
I was attracted to Genentech because of my long-standing interest in translating excellent science into therapies to treat unmet medical needs. I am excited by the prospect of utilizing Genentech's deep expertise in biology to discover and develop small molecule drugs that are innovative and contribute to the health and well-being of our community. I have always been attracted to the idea of building large diverse teams of scientists who work together to solve very difficult problems. I like to build.
My Focus
My current project is to develop both a short-term and long-term strategy for Small Molecule Discovery within Genentech. This will include blending a focus on high-quality science and innovation with our desire to bring forward novel and exciting new drug candidates. I hope to build a group that is team-focused, excited about contributing to our projects, and in tight partnership with other groups within Genentech.
Publications & Recognition
- Biological properties of AG2037: a new inhibitor of glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase with low affinity for the folate receptor
- Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res 40(90); 291-92
- Bartlett, C. A., Boritzki, T. J., Dagostino, E. F., Margosiak, S. A., Palmer, C. L., Romines, W. H., Varney, M. D
- Protein Structure-Based Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 5-Thia- 2,6 diamino 4 (3H) oxopyrimidines: Potent Inhibitors of Glycinamide Ribonucleotide Transformylase with Potent Cell Growth Inhibition
- J Med Chem 1997, 40, 2502-2524
- Varney, M.D.; Palmer, C.L.; Romines, W.H.; Boritzki, T.; Margosiak, S.A.; Almassy, R.; Janson, C.A.; Bartlett, C.; Howland, E.J.; Ferre, R
- View Abstract on PubMed
- Structure-Based Design of Substituted Diphenyl Sulfones and Sulfoxides as Lipophilic Inhibitors of Thymidylate Synthase
- J Med Chem 1997, 40, 677-683
- Jones, T.R.; Webber, S.E.; Varney, M.D.; Reddy, M.R.; Lewis, K.K.; Kathardekar, V.; Mazdiyasni, H.; Deal, J.; Nguyen, D.; Welsh, K.M.; Webber, S.; JohnstonA.; Matthews, D.A.; Smith, W.W.; Janson, C.A.; Bacquet, R.J.; Howland, E.F.; Booth, C.L.J.; Herrmann, S.M.; Ward, R.W.; White, J.; Bartlett, C.A.; Morse, C.A
- View Abstract on PubMed
- California Institute of Technology, Department of Organic Synthesis
- Ph.D
- 1985
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Chemistry
- B.S
- 1980
Publications & Recognition
- Biological properties of AG2037: a new inhibitor of glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase with low affinity for the folate receptor
- Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res 40(90); 291-92
- Bartlett, C. A., Boritzki, T. J., Dagostino, E. F., Margosiak, S. A., Palmer, C. L., Romines, W. H., Varney, M. D
- Protein Structure-Based Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 5-Thia- 2,6 diamino 4 (3H) oxopyrimidines: Potent Inhibitors of Glycinamide Ribonucleotide Transformylase with Potent Cell Growth Inhibition
- J Med Chem 1997, 40, 2502-2524
- Varney, M.D.; Palmer, C.L.; Romines, W.H.; Boritzki, T.; Margosiak, S.A.; Almassy, R.; Janson, C.A.; Bartlett, C.; Howland, E.J.; Ferre, R
- View Abstract on PubMed
- Structure-Based Design of Substituted Diphenyl Sulfones and Sulfoxides as Lipophilic Inhibitors of Thymidylate Synthase
- J Med Chem 1997, 40, 677-683
- Jones, T.R.; Webber, S.E.; Varney, M.D.; Reddy, M.R.; Lewis, K.K.; Kathardekar, V.; Mazdiyasni, H.; Deal, J.; Nguyen, D.; Welsh, K.M.; Webber, S.; JohnstonA.; Matthews, D.A.; Smith, W.W.; Janson, C.A.; Bacquet, R.J.; Howland, E.F.; Booth, C.L.J.; Herrmann, S.M.; Ward, R.W.; White, J.; Bartlett, C.A.; Morse, C.A
- View Abstract on PubMed
- An Improved Large Scale Synthesis of Benz[cd]indol-2(1H)-one and 5-Methylbenz[cd]indol-2(1H)-one
- Organic Process Research Development 1996, 1, 81-84.
- Marzoni, G.; Varney, M.D
- Structure-based design of lipophilic quinazoline inhibitors of thymidylate synthase
- J Med Chem 1996 Feb 16; 39(4): 904-17
- Jones TR, Varney MD, Webber SE, Lewis KK, Marzoni GP, Palmer CL, Kathardekar V, Welsh KM, Webber S, Matthews DA, Appelt K, Smith WW, Janson CA, Villafranca JE, Bacquet RJ, Howland EF, Booth CL, Herrmann SM, Ward RW, White J, Moomaw EW, Bartlett CA, Morse CA
- View Abstract on PubMed
- An approach to rapid estimation of relative binding affinities of enzyme inhibitors: application to peptidomimetic inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease
- J Med Chem 1996 Feb 2; 39(3): 705-12
- Viswanadhan VN, Reddy MR, Wlodawer A, Varney MD, Weinstein JN
- View Abstract on PubMed
- Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of N-[4-(2-trans-[([2,6-diamino-4(3H)-oxopyrimidin-5-yl]methyl)thio]cyclobutyl)benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid a Novel 5-Thiapyrimidinone Inhibitor of Dihydrofolate Reductase
- J. Heterocyclic Chem. 1995, 1493-1498
- Varney, M.D.; Romines, W.H.; Boritzki, T; Margosiak, S.A.; Bartlett, C.A.; Howland, E.J
- Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel 2,6-Diamino-Benz[cd]indole Inhibitors of Thymidylate Synthase Using the Protein Structure as a Guide
- J Med Chem 1995, 38, 1892-1903
- Varney, M.D.; Palmer, C.L.; Deal, J.G.; Webber, S.; Welsh, K.M.; Bartlett, C.A.; Morse, C.A.; Smith, W.W.; Janson, C.A
- View Abstract on PubMed
- Crystal Structure-Based Design and Synthesis of Novel C-Terminal Inhibitors of HIV Protease
- J Med Chem 1994, 37, 2274-2284
- Varney, M.D.; Appelt, K.; Kalish, V.; Reddy, M.R.; Tatlock, J.; Palmer, C.L.; Wu, B.W
- View Abstract on PubMed
- Calculation of relative differences in the binding free energies of HIV1 protease inhibitors: a thermodynamic cycle perturbation approach
- J Med Chem 1994 Apr 15; 37(8): 1145-52
- Reddy MR, Varney MD, Kalish V, Viswanadhan VN, Appelt K
- View Abstract on PubMed
- Application of the three-dimensional structures of protein target molecules in structure-based drug design
- J Med Chem 1994 Apr 15; 37(8): 1035-54
- Greer J, Erickson JW, Baldwin JJ, Varney MD
- View Abstract on PubMed
- Recent advances in antifolates as anticancer agents
- Current Opinion in Therapeutic Patents 1992 2: 1979-1992
- Varney MD, Romines WH
- Crystal-structure-based design and synthesis of benz[cd]indole-containing inhibitors of thymidylate synthase
- J Med Chem 1992 Feb 21; 35(4): 663-76
- Varney MD, Marzoni GP, Palmer CL, Deal JG, Webber S, Welsh KM, Bacquet RJ, Bartlett CA, Morse CA, Booth CL
- View Abstract on PubMed
- Tautomerization of N6,N6-Dimethyl 2,6-Diaminobenz[cd]indole in the gas phase and in aqueous solution: A combined quantum mechanical and free energy perturbation study
- Journal de Chimie physique 1991 88: 2605
- Reddy MR, Bacquet RJ, Varney MD
- The design of enzyme inhibitors using iterative protein crystallographic analysis
- J Med Chem 1991 34: 1925-1934.
- Appelt K, Bacquet RJ, Bartlett CA, Booth CL, Freer ST, Fuhry MM, Gehring MR, Herrmann SM, Howland EF, Janson CA, Jones TR, Kan CC, Kathardekar V, Lewis KK, Marzoni GP, Matthews DA, Mohr C, Moomaw EW, Morse CA, Oatley SJ, Ogden RC, Reddy MR, Reich SH, Schoettlin WS, Smith WW, Varney MD, Villafranca JE, Ward RW, Webber S, Webber SE, Welsh KM, White J
- Artificial transaminases linking pyridoxamine to binding cavities: controlling the geometry
- Jam Chem Soc 1990 112: 5212-5219
- Breslow R, Canary JW, Varney M, Waddell ST,Yang D
- Mehra, Optically active amino acid synthesis by artificial transaminase enzymes
- Tetrahedron 1988 44: 5515-5524
- Breslow R, Chmielewski J, Foley D,Johnson B, Kumabe N, Varney MD, R
- Approach to the total synthesis of chlorothricolide: synthesis of(±)-19,20-dihydro-24-0-methylchlorothricolide, methyl ester, ethyl carbonate
- J. Org. Chem. 1986, 51,635-648
- Ireland, R. E. and M. D. Varney
- Stereochemistry of the Claisen rearrangement of derivatives of 5-tert-butyl-l-(hydroxymethy1)-2-cyclohexene: Preferred axial attachment of the side chain
- J. Org. Chem. 1984, 48,1829-1833
- Ireland, R. E. and M. D. Varney
- Ireland, R. E. and M. D. Varney
- A chiral primary alcohol equivalent: Silyl-assisted asymmetric induction in the ester enolate Claisen rearrangement
- J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1984, 106,3668-3670
