Strategic Innovator & Technical Professional
With over two decades of experience as a microbiologist, serial entrepreneur, and regulatory affairs subject matter expert (SME), I specialize in alternative antimicrobial drug discovery, microbial pathology, antimicrobial medical devices, and translational science. My career spans leading complex R&D initiatives, overseeing GLP-compliant preclinical studies, and guiding medical technologies through rigorous FDA and ISO regulatory pathways—including pre-IND/IDE and 510(k) submissions. I am dedicated to incubating novel technologies, such as photo-antimicrobials and multidrug translocase inhibitors, and accelerating their clinical commercialization.
A comprehensive index of translational science, methodological validations, and device development.
Purpose: Novel antimicrobial discovery applications targeting membrane translocases of pathogenic multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and yeast; to discover small molecule potentiators of antimicrobial, antibiotic, and antifungal agents. Characterization of extracts from plants of medicinal value.
Obtained the NCI Natural Products Repository comprised of extracts from 80,000 plants of medicinal value gathered from Africa and Madagascar, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia, 20,000 marine invertebrates and marine algae collected, mainly from the Indo-Pacific region, and 16,000 microbes accrued by the US Department of Agriculture. Obtained a portion of the Chembridge library comprising 1.3 million diverse and target-focused screening compounds.
Purpose: Creation of various medical device involving impregnated & eluting plastics using natural product derived polymers.
Comments: Branched complex glucan has multiple uses in medical applications and high biocompatibility, including implantable devices such as Foley catheters, with several desirable properties including high surface viscous and is non-irritating. Resulted in NIH SBIR award 1R43AI077174-01A2 "Continuous Biofilm Disrupting Materials".
Development of new and novel applications of Levan, a naturally occurring polymer comprised of levorotatory polysaccharides as a suitable biocompatible plastic for indwelling medical devices.
Purpose: Applications included exploration of novel photosensitizing agents active against ESKAPE pathogens, dual-purpose photobiomodulatory wound healing & germicidal light based concepts, and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation synergism for the US warfighter & first responders.
Comments: Work produced 3 publications & a book chapter between 2012-2018. Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) uses photosensitizers (PSs) and harmless visible light to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and kill microbes.
To explore the concept of synergism (potentiation/enhancement) of microbial inactivation using light-mediated modalities such as photosensitization and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.
Purpose: The intent of this work was to develop screening techniques for the discovery of novel agents which would ordinarily be missed using conventional hit-to-lead screening of large multimillion compound chemical libraries. Development of assays to query synergism between small molecules active against human pathogens and biowarefare agents.
Overall Outcomes: Identification of novel efflux pump inhibitors active against membrane translocases that confer multidrug resistance to various antimicrobials, antibiotics, and antifungals. Many agents were found to have little to no activity alone but in combination with weak antimicrobials such as berberine or ethidium bromide produced between a 4-fold and 1,000-fold increase in sensitivity against microbes of clinical importance such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Bacillus anthracis.
Purpose: Several assays were developed to support pre-clinical biosafety and efficacy studies for FDA 510(k) premarket approval applications. GLP studies to support pre-clinical efficacy studies towards FDA 510(k) premarket approval.
Overall Outcomes: Several new methodologies were developed and submitted to the FDA leading to product registration of various medical devices including needleless access devices, infusion pumps, and antimicrobial catheters.
A granular architecture of collegiate preparations, translational frameworks, and degree progression.
| Course Title | Credits | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Intro to Global Regulatory Affairs | 3.0 | Completed |
| Regulatory Strategy (Drugs & Biologics) | 6.0 | Completed |
| Regulatory Affairs: Diagnostics & Devices | 3.0 | Completed |
| Medicines Development & Clinical Analysis | 6.0 | Completed |
| Clinical Research & Regulatory Compliance | 3.0 | Completed |
| Corporate Compliance & Patient Safety | 6.0 | Completed |
| Healthcare Quality Measurement | 3.0 | Completed |
| Leadership in Regulatory Affairs | 3.0 | Completed |
| Course Title | Credits | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular Cell Biology I & II | 8.0 | Completed |
| Principles of Microbiology | 4.0 | Completed |
| Ethics in Biological Research | 2.0 | Completed |
| Graduate Seminar & Biological Colloquium | 3.0 | Completed |
| Independent Research (Microbiology) | 4.0 | Completed |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | 10.0+ | In Progress (ABD) |
| Course Category / Title | Credits | Status |
|---|---|---|
| General Biology & Genetics | 12.0+ | Completed |
| General & Organic Chemistry (w/ Labs) | 20.0+ | Completed |
| Biochemistry & Microbiology | 8.0+ | Completed |
| Calculus & Physics for Life Sciences | 16.0+ | Completed |
| Minor: History (Western Civ, US Hist) | 20.0+ | Completed |
GAMA Therapeutics · SBIR II Publication Program
A proposed publication slate built entirely from data already collected under US Army contract W81XWH-16-C-0207 and requiring no additional benchwork. Prepared for editorial review and collaboration with research partners.