About Novartis

Dr. Alan P. Brown is a Director in Preclinical Safety at Novartis, where he supports therapeutic programs focused on cardiovascular disease. His responsibilities include evaluating compounds for in-licensing and acquisitions, co-chairing a liver safety advisory team, and conducting educational workshops for colleagues at Novartis. Dr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Arizona. He completed postdoctoral research at Michigan State University and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. With extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, he plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and efficacy of new therapeutic compounds.

Dr. Douglas S. Auld serves as the Associate Director of Discovery Sciences in Biomedical Research at Novartis, where he focuses on advancing therapeutic programs. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina under the guidance of Professor Gary J. Pielak and completed postdoctoral training at MIT with Professor Paul Schimmel. Dr. Auld played a pivotal role in establishing Pharmacopeia, a company that utilized combinatorial chemistry and ultra-high-throughput screening (HTS) to facilitate drug discovery. In 2004, he was instrumental in launching the NIH Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC), where he contributed to its development into a center of scientific excellence and received the NIH Merit Award for his leadership in 2006. Since joining Novartis in 2010, Dr. Auld's lab has provided assay development expertise and innovative technologies to support drug development efforts, and he has authored over 110 scientific publications while lecturing internationally on his research.

Dr. Sabine Guth is the Director of the Diseases of Aging and Regenerative Medicine unit within Biomedical Research at Novartis, where she leads efforts in drug discovery and development. With a strong focus on E3 ligases and selective kinase inhibitors for BMP-type I receptors, her work is currently undergoing clinical evaluation. From 2013 to 2023, Dr. Guth served as the director of the Joint, Bone and Tendon Research Unit at MSD, where she contributed to significant advancements in musculoskeletal research. Since 2023, she has been instrumental in establishing the in vitro Discovery Unit at Novartis, based in Basel. Dr. Guth's extensive expertise in pharmacology and her leadership in innovative research initiatives position her as a key figure in advancing therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases and regenerative medicine.

Stephanie Dodd, MSc, is the Associate Director of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Profiling within the Development sector at Novartis. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Merrimack College in 1997 and her Master of Science in Chemistry from Northeastern University in 2003. Stephanie began her career in 1998 at Genetics Institute, focusing on biopharmaceutic characterization and analysis of proteins. In 2000, she transitioned to Cubist Pharmaceuticals, where she supported bioanalytical and CMC characterization of peptides aimed at treating infectious diseases. Since joining Novartis in 2004, she has been instrumental in building the Chemical & Pharmaceutical Profiling group, conducting developability assessments on new chemical entities across the Novartis portfolio. Currently, she serves as the biopharmaceutics expert for her group, leading initiatives in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic absorption modeling, developing in vitro methods, and establishing in vitro-in vivo correlations to guide formulation development for pharmacokinetic, efficacy, and toxicological assessments.

Dr. Sujal Deshmukh is the Director of Pharmacokinetic Sciences within the Biomedical Research division at Novartis, where he oversees the Global In Vitro ADME group. He obtained his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Deshmukh joined Merck Research Laboratories in the DMPK department, where he supported projects during the discovery phase. After his tenure at Merck, he transitioned to Novartis, where he focuses on evaluating and characterizing the in vitro clearance, permeability, drug-drug interactions, and distribution properties of new molecules. His expertise plays a crucial role in advancing drug development efforts at Novartis, ensuring that new therapeutic candidates meet the necessary pharmacokinetic profiles for clinical success.

Dr. Thomas M. Smith is the Associate Director in the department of Academic Partnering and External Innovation at Novartis Biomedical Research in Cambridge, MA. In this role, he facilitates early strategic partnerships between Novartis and external academic institutions, enhancing collaborative efforts in biomedical research. Prior to this position, Dr. Smith worked with project teams across various disease areas at Novartis, focusing on new therapeutic modalities, drug prototypes, and early-stage drug discovery efforts targeting disease-relevant objectives.

Dr. W. Ross Tracey is the Associate Director of Biomedical Research Learning at Novartis, based in Cambridge, MA, USA. He is responsible for consulting on, developing, and delivering educational courses focused on drug discovery and development. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Tracey collaborates with project teams to enhance decision-making processes, manage risks, and share valuable lessons learned. He is also dedicated to external knowledge sharing, particularly in developing scientific capabilities in low- and middle-income countries.