Director Biology/Drug Discovery

Posted on: 2006-08-19

ANNETTE KIRCHGESSNER, PH.D. 6434 SOUTH CREST MOUNT DRIVE | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84121 PHONE: (801) 274-2301 | E-MAIL: [email protected] EXPERIENCE NPS PHARMACEUTICALS SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH Director of Biology | Drug Discovery June 2005 – June 2006  Worked directly under the Vice President for Drug Discovery, Dr. Alan Mueller.  Managed department of 25 employees including seven senior scientists. Provided team direction and set priorities in HTS and issues related to tissue culture, molecular biology, in vivo pharmacology, and immunocytochemistry/confocal microscopy.  Integrated the in vivo pharmacology group and DMPK and spearheaded joint weekly meetings between Biology and DMPK.  Performed staff reviews & development; determined resource allocation and maintained department budget of over 15M.  Provided innovative ideas and presented cutting edge research proposals to the New Opportunities Review Committee. Director of Toronto Research Center | Drug Discovery April 2004 – June 2005  Reported directly to the Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Edward Nemeth.  Managed an international cross-matrix team consisting of eight employees, including 3 senior scientists.  Assessed early- and late-stage in-licensing opportunities in diabetes, osteoporosis, and CNS disorders from external commercial and academic sources for possible joint venture synergies.  Supported the preclinical development of Preos and calcilytics for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and in collaboration with Astra Zeneca, group III mGluR receptor agonists in type II diabetes and glucagonemia. GLAXO SMITH KLINE HARLOW, UK Director | Department of Gastrointestinal Research, Neurology & GI CEDD July 2002 – March 2004  Reported to the Vice President and Head of the Neurology & GI CEDD, Dr. Jackie Hunter.  Coordinated scientific research and drug development and managed the department budget (over £10 million). Led management team of multi-disciplinary backgrounds and interfaced with external commercial and academic collaborators.  Led cross-matrix program for IBS HitDIP; identified targets within psychiatry, metabolic and respiratory CEDDS for consideration for GI functional bowel disorders.  Organized and led GSK-Imperial College GI Workshop. Trained teams to identify potentially new therapeutic targets via the establishment of specific in vitro and in vivo studies.  Assessed in-licensing opportunities from external commercial sources for possible joint venture synergies.  Introduced and incorporated new technologies into the pre-clinical drug discovery process.  Led several international cross-matrix teams to resolve issues, identify solutions and provide recommendations to therapeutic area leaders. Led a cross-matrix team, which developed a portfolio of drug targets within a disease area.  Altered the scientific direction and structure of research group to intimately focus on a disease area (visceral pain).  Provided strategic consultation regarding disease area strategy as Co-Chair of the GI Disease Area Management Team.  Member of the Management Team and Portfolio Review Committee. SUNY DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CENTER BROOKLYN, NY Adjunct & Associate Professor | Department of Pharmacology & Physiology June 1999 – Present  Managed and established a successful research program in enteric and pancreatic endocrine physiology..  Built research program that justified consistent funding by the NIH and American Diabetes Association; laboratory members included four postdoctoral and graduate students, and four European visiting scientists.  Taught endocrinology in Medical School and Gastroenterology in College of Health Related Professions.  Founder and director of Confocal Imaging Facility. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS NEW YORK, NY Research Scientist & Assistant Professor | Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology 1985 – 1999  Lectured and assisted in the Human Gross Anatomy lab, led a productive research lab consisting of postdoctoral and graduate students researching enteric innervation of the pancreas, pancreatic ganglionic neurotransmission and the role of 5-HT3 and 4 receptors in GI peristalsis and visceral pain.  Taught Human Gross Anatomy to first year medical students.  Established extramurally funded lab that focused on enteric and pancreatic neurobiology and the role of intrinsic pancreatic neurons in regulating amylase and insulin release. ANNETTE KIRCHGESSNER, PH.D. PAGE 2 EDUCATION COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY & CELL BIOLOGY NEW YORK, NY Postdoctoral Fellow 1986 – 1989 SUNY HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER OF BROOKLYN BROOKLYN, NY Ph.D. 1986 QUEENS COLLEGE OF CUNY QUEENS, NY Masters of Arts 1981 HUNTER COLLEGE OF CUNY NEW YORK, NY Bachelor of Arts 1979 AWARDS, HONORS & MEMBERSHIPS  Doctoral Student Thesis Committee, 2002- 2004  Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, 1999-2002  American Diabetes Association, 1999-present  NIH Research and Career Development Award, 1992-1997  Society for Neuroscience, 1981-present  Anton J. Carlson Award for Basic Research in GI, 1995-1996  Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid for Research, 1983-1984  American Gastroenterology Association  Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology Hunter College, CUNY Chapter  Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Postdoctoral Fellowship Award in Pharmacology-Morphology, 1986-1988