UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS 2009:  Clinical Pathology and Nutritional Sciences Department. Professor Eugene Rogers,  Program Director. 

Clinical Pathology Certification Program: Clinical Pathology combines the theoretical and technical knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, clinical chemistry, genetics, immunology, microbiology, hematology, histocompatibility, cellular pathology and other fields as they pertain to the dlinical Pathology combines the theoretical and technical knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, clinical chemistry, genetics, immunology, microbiology, hematology, histocompatibility, cellpathology and other fields as they pertain to the diagnosis, monitoring and prevention of disease.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY DECEMBER 1989 - APRIL 1992: NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Professor Yoshito Kishi.

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology: Palytoxin (PTX) is a complex marine natural product with 71 asymmetric centers isolated from soft coral and is considered to be one of the most toxic non-peptide substances known second to maitotoxin. Palytoxin targets the sodium-potassium pump protein via binding and "locking" it in a position allowing passive transport of both the sodium and potassium ions, thereby destroying the ion gradient that is essential for most cells. Toxicity symptoms are angina-like chest pains, tachycardia, unstable blood pressure, hemolysis, asthma-like breathing difficulties, and exaggerated T-wave in electreocardiograms wherein these symptoms are rapid and death usually follows in minutes.

Synthesis and purifications of the synthetic bioisostere incorporated PTX from the palytoxin carboxylic acid (PTC) derived from the selective hydrolysis of the vinylogous urea portion of PTX. Specially trained in the handling of PTX and PTC from a former Japanese Prof. Kishi group member.

Synthesis and incorporation of novel vinylogous urea bioisosteres of Palytoxin (PTX) into Palytoxin carboxylic acid (PTC), and the construction of many Palytoxin model systems. Methods included Kishi's Nickel‑Chromium coupling for the synthesis of the C‑1 to C‑16 and C‑l to C‑25 Palytoxin model systems, worked on new synthetic building blocks, and carbon-glycosides. Testing of the novel palytoxin analogs were done at the Harvard University Medical School.

PURDUE UNIVERSITY AUGUST 1984 - DECEMBER 1989: Ph.D., NSF and NIH Graduate Research Associate with Professor Phil. L. Fuchs on "New Methodologies Directed towards the Total Synthesis of Cytochalasins C & D."

The Cytochalasins can be used as chemical "molecular tools" to better understand actin polymerization, cell motility, ruffling, cell division, contraction, cell stiffness, cytoskeletal movement and other biological processes.

Constructed many advanced intermediates and novel building blocks employing unique Diels-Alder reactions, an intramolecular chiral acyl transfer strategy, "tried and true" vinyl sulfone technologies, new cyclopentenylations, anhydrous cerium (III) chloride methodologies, allylsilanes, "BEST" reagents for nucleophilic and electrophilic mercaptanylations, silicon and tin.

Teaching Assistant Experience

General Chemistry TA: These courses introduced concepts such as stoichiometry, prediction of reaction products, thermodynamics, nuclear chemistry, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, Conservation of energy, Conservation of mass, Law of constant composition, Gas laws, Solubility, Acid-base chemistry, Chemical bonding, Chemical equilibria and the basics of physical chemistry.

General Chemistry Laboratory TA: These courses applied the concepts acquired in the lectures and applied them in a supervised laboratory setting.

Organic Chemistry (Chemistry for Medicine/Health Care Fields): These courses were focused on those entering the medical and healthcare fields. Topics introduced the study of organic structures, properties, composition, reactions and preparation (by synthesis or by other means) of chemical compounds that contain carbon, basic nomenclature and an introduction to compounds that may contain any number of other elements, including hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, the halogens as well as phosphorus, silicon and sulfur.

Organic Chemistry Laboratory TA (Chemistry for Medicine/Health Care Fields): These courses applied the concepts acquired in the lectures and applied them in a supervised laboratory setting.

Organic Chemistry (Chemistry for Chemistry Majors): These courses were focused on those majoring in chemistry. Topics include the study of organic structures, properties, composition, reactions and preparation (by synthesis or by other means) of chemical compounds that contain carbon, nomenclature, examples that contain any number of other elements, including hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, the halogens as well as phosphorus, silicon and sulfur. The study and application of organic chemistry for medicinal chemistry lie on a continuum, but individuals with interests in these areas have one thing in common; they seek to understand how chemical structure correlates with biological activity.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AUGUST 1980 - JUNE 1984: B.S. degree in chemistry with a focus on biochemistry and microbiology. Conducted undergraduate research & thesis (CHM 3499) in the biogenesis of alkaloids (heterocyclic syntheses and plant chemical biology), the biology of plant natural product syntheses, and secondary plant metabolites with the late Professor Edward Leete (08Feb1992).

Niacin (vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid), is a vitamin that prevents the deficiency disease pellagra. However the tetrahydronicotinic acids are also proposed as intermediates in the biosynthesis of secondary plant metabolites and alkaloids.

Undergraduate Thesis (CHM 3499): "Studies Directed Toward The Synthesis of 1,2,3,6‑Tetrahydronicotinic Acid and Retronecine for Their Use In Plant Biomimetic Syntheses", and studies in the biogenesis of alkaloids. Additional studies were on electrode surface modifications with chemically modified riboflavins for studying the biology and reduction potential of important enzymes with Professor M. T. Stankovich.

AWARDS, PERSONAL INTERESTS, AND OTHER

Professional Associations:

American Chemical Society

New York Academy of Sciences

Association for Molecular Pathology

Associations: Harvard University Club; Harvard Boston Club Member, Harvard San Francisco Club Member

Strathmore's Who's Who in Leadership and Achievement (2003).

United Who's Who of Executives and Professionals (2003).

Multiple Continuing Education Certificates (CE).

Personal Interests: Golf, Fly Fishing, Skiing, Travel, Languages (Swedish, German, French, Spanish), Art, Literature, etc.

Useful Software: MS Word, Front Page, PowerPoint, Adobe, ISIS, Excel, SciFinder, Spotfire, Pipeline Pilot, Group resource and modeling software Beilstein, ISIS base, Accelrys, Schrodinger, etc.

REFERENCES

Industrial: Alex Polinsky Ph.D. (owner of Apolco, in Massachusetts) alex.polinsky@gmail.com and John Musser, Ph.D. (COO at Pharmagenesis) jmusser@pharmagenesis.com

Academic: Professor Yoshito Kishi, Ph.D. kishi@chemistry.harvard.edu at Harvard University http://www.harvard.edu/ and Professor Phil. Fuchs, Ph.D. pfuchs@purdue.edu at Purdue University http://www.purdue.edu/

Additional references available on request.

Professional Character Recommendations: LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbanderson

Printable CV:   www.markbriananderson.com