Galen S. Loving

scientist working at the interface of chemistry and biology

ABOUT

As a chemist, I create small molecules and functional assays in a drug discovery setting. During my tenure at Carmot Therapeutics, Stemcentrx, and during my PhD and postdoctoral work, I have consistently straddled the line between synthetic chemistry and assay development, with the general theme that high-throughput synthetic chemistry combined with smart assays yields results. I love seeing projects move quickly because a wealth of data allows the team to make the best decisions possible.

EDUCATION

PhD Chemistry
MIT
Advisor Barbara Imperiali

Thesis title: New Tools Derived from the Solvatochromic 4-N,N-Dimethylamino-1,8-naphthalimide Fluorophore for the Detection of Biomolecular Interactions

B.S. Chemistry
The University of Kansas

Chemistry Honors Program GPA 4.00/4.00


EXPERIENCE

Scientist
Carmot Therapeutics

I use high-throughput chemistry to build custom compound libraries (chemotype evolution) to search for new small molecules active against my target of interest. I guide this drug discovery program by validating hits and analyzing SAR while working strategically with collaborators and coworkers.

NOV 2013 - PRESENT

Scientist I
Stemcentrx

As a contractor in a GMP-controlled setting, I synthesized a potent cytotoxin on a large scale (tens of grams) to be used for the manufacturing of antibody-drug conjugates.

JULY 2013 - OCT 2013

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital

Designed, synthesized, and developed MR imaging probes for detecting disease-associated environments that are currently not possible to image by MRI (blood clots, redox environment). Along with synthesis efforts and DMPK studies of some probes, the largest project included scaling a unique fluorescence-based assay for a high-throughput screen that was conducted at The Scripps Research Center in Jupiter, Fl, which turned me on to the discovery capabilities of high-throughput assays.

OCT 2009 - JUNE 2013

Research Assistant, Assay Development group of the Infection Division
AstraZeneca R&D

In the Assay Development group of the Infection Division: Developed a new fluorescence polarization assay to screen for potential anti-microbial agents that target a specific DNA maintenance enzyme that is unique to bacteria.

SEPT 2006 - NOV 2006


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND PATENTS

Activation and Retention: A Magnetic Resonance Probe for the Detection of Acute Thrombosis

Loving GS, Caravan P (2014) Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 53 (4), pp 1140-1143

Redox-Activated Manganese-Based MR Contrast Agent

Loving GS, Mukherjee S, Caravan P (2013) J Am Chem Soc. 135 (12), pp 4620–4623.

Imperiali B, Loving GS, Peptides incorporating environmentally-sensit ive fluorophores for investigating protein-protein interactions.

Granted US Patent No. US 8,440,835 B2, 2013

Monitoring protein interactions and dynamics with solvatochromic fluorophores

Loving GS, Sainlos M, Imperiali B (2010) Trends in Biotechnology 28 (2) pp 73–83.

A Versatile Amino Acid Analogue of the Solvatochromic Fluorophore 4-N,N-Dimethylamino-1,8-naphthalimide: A Powerful Tool for the Study of Dynamic Protein Interactions

Loving GS, Imperiali I (2008) J Am Chem Soc. 130 (41), pp 13630–13638



CONTACT

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/galenloving