I joined Genentech in 2006 as an Associate Director of Discovery Chemistry. In this role, I manage a team of medicinal chemists who are working to discover and develop novel small molecule drugs for a variety of oncology and immunology disease indications.

I was drawn to join Genentech because of its reputation for doing excellent science and employing strong teamwork. Teams are the focal point at Genentech. All scientists are members of interdisciplinary project teams, which include colleagues from discovery chemistry, biology, pharmacology, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, computational chemistry, crystallography, and process development. The project team collectively puts the pieces of the puzzle together, relying on each others' expertise, to make the best drug candidate possible.

At Genentech, any team member with a compelling idea has a chance to be heard and get the resources to move their idea forward. It is not a hierarchical organization and everyone has a voice. The organization is also very nimble and open-minded to incorporate processes that keep things moving. The motto "patients are waiting" hits home with everyone.

• My Focus

  I am team leader of a project working to discover orally bioavailable agents to treat inflammatory diseases. As of yet, no one has brought forth a drug that works against this unexploited target. The opportunity to bring forth a "first-in-class" drug to treat unmet medical needs is incredibly exciting and motivating.

• Publications

  • Significant Species Difference in Amide Hydrolysis of GDC-0834, a Novel Potent and Selective Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) Inhibitor.

    Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals, {Drug-Metab-Dispos}, 8 Jul 2011 (epub: 8 7 2011), ISSN: 1521-009X.

    Liu, Lichuan; Halladay, Jason; Shin, Young; Wong, Susan; Coraggio, Melis; La, Hank; Baumgardner, Matthew; Le, Hoa; Gopaul, Sashi; Boggs, Jason; Kuebler, Peter; Davis, John; Liao, Charlene; Lubach, Joseph; Deese, Alan; Sowell, Gregory; Currie, Kevin; Young, Wendy; Khojasteh, Cyrus; Hop, Cornelis; Wong, Harvey

     View on PubMed

  • Specific Btk inhibition suppresses B cell- and myeloid cell-mediated arthritis.

    Nature Chemical Biology, 2011, ISSN: 1552-4469

    Di Paolo, J.; Huangm T.; Balazs, M.; Barbosa, J.; Barck, K.; Bravo, B.; Carano, R.; Darrow, J.; Davies, D.; DeForge, L.; Diehl, L.; Ferrando, R.; Gallion, S.; Giannetti, A.; Gribling, P.; Hurez, V.; Hymowitz, S.; Jones, R.; Kropf, J.; Lee, W.; Maciejewski, P.; Mitchell, S.; Rong, H.; Staker, B.; Whitney, A.; Yeh, S.; Young, W.; Yu, C.; Zhang, J.; Reif, K.; Currie, K.

• Education
  • Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, American Cancer Society, Postdoctoral Fellow – 1995
  • Princeton University, Ph.D. Chemistry – 1993
  • Wake Forest University, B.A./M.S. Chemistry, cum laude – 1988
• Awards & Honors
  • American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship – 1993-1995
  • H. W. Dodds - Princeton University Honorific Fellowship, Top Thesis Award – 1993
  • Josephine de Karman Fellowship – 1992
  • ACS Graduate Fellowship – 1991-1992
  • Department of Education Graduate Fellowship – 1990
  • BA/MS Chemistry Scholarship, Wake Forest University – 1988
  • New York Math League Award, Finalist – 1984