Susanne Swalley, PhD

Susanne Swalley, PhD

Early drug discovery expert with 19+ years of experience
United States
English
Academic affiliation

Trained as a chemist, with postdoctoral training in biophysics and structural biology, I have a 19+ years track-record in industry leading project teams, phenotypic screening, target deconvolution, protein and oligonucleotide biophysics, and statistical design of experiment (DoE) for assay development.

Individual
Company

Skills

Phenotypic screening
RNA / DNA targeting
Hit identification
Protein expression
Target assesment
Statistical analysis
Hit to lead
Lead optimization
High content screening
Gene manipulation, cloning
Team management (5-20 people)

About

After 18 years in the Pharma industry, I formed my own consulting company, Aspen Point Consulting, LLC, in 2022. I specialize in small molecule drug discovery, phenotypic screening, target deconvolution, chemical biology, and biophysics. My clients range from companies performing phenotypic screens and requiring expertise on screening and subsequent target deconvolution, to companies with a putative target but with a need to validate target engagement, to companies looking to generate specific small molecule binders to RNA and verify specificity and cellular MoA.

Work experience

Senior Investigator I (Lab Head)

Company:
Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research
Duration:
Sep 2011
-
Jun 2017
present

I co-led the efforts to determine the mechanism of action (MoA) of branaplam, a sequence-specific SMN2 splicing modulator, resulting in a publication in Nature Chemical Biology as a corresponding author. Other activities involved other MoA projects, the generation of DNA aptamers to high-interest targets, and validating target binding through a number of biophysical techniques and impacting projects by delivering sensitive detection assays. I used statistical DoE approaches extensively, resulting in rapid assay optimization.

Principal Scientist (Lab Head)

Company:
Biogen
Duration:
Jun 2017
-
Jan 2021
present

I led a Chemical Biology team focused on target deconvolution of small molecule hits from phenotypic screens, particularly chemoproteomics, genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening and CETSA. Additionally, I was the project lead for two small molecule drug discovery programs: one in collaboration with an external partner through the lead optimization stage, one an internal phenotypic screen using patient-derived iPSC cells through the hit identification stage. My teams spanned medicinal chemistry, biology, screening, DMPK, preclinical safety and commercial functions.

Vice President

Company:
Dewpoint Therpeutics
Duration:
Jan 2021
-
Apr 2022
present

As a member of the Leadership Team responsible for the research portfolio, I provided strategic vision on early drug discovery and target deconvolution. At various times I wasdirectly responsible for the High-throughput Screening, In Vitro Pharmacology, Chemical Biology, Cell Engineering, and Condensate Mapping teams, delivering high quality assays and screens for hit identification and hit-to-lead as well as identifying molecular targets of condensate modulating small molecules.

Education

Amherst College

Degree:
BA (Chemistry), BA (Music)
Year of degree awarded:
1993

California Institute of Technology

Degree:
PhD (Chemistry)
Year of degree awarded:
1998

Publications

Case STUDIES

RNA small molecule drug discovery

Start-up biotech client. Goal: find small molecules that modulate RNA function. Currently I am their point of contact for CROs carrying out small molecule screens and follow-up hit identification and lead optimization activities, providing expertise in biophysics and chemical biology to understand small molecule MoA and selectivity. I am also a member of the Leadership Team, providing strategic guidance on drug discovery activities. Additionally, I designed a novel cellular reporter assay for an RNA binding protein of interest and presented the strategy directly to the SAB.

Company with a novel technology

Life science tools company with a state-of-the-art platform technology. Goal: understand the competitive landscape and how best to position the technology. For this client, I evaluated other competitor technologies, revised their pitch deck, and proposed experiments that would strengthen their position in the market.

RNA small molecule drug discovery

Start-up biotech client. Goal: understand the MoA for small molecules that modulate RNA. For this client, I review data from their MoA activities and advise on next steps. I also provided guidance on what equipment they would need to set up a Chemical Biology laboratory for in-house MoA activities, and what can be outsourced effectively.