Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry IV

Dr. Rotella earned a PhD in medicinal chemistry from The Ohio State University and carried out postdoctoral research in organic chemistry at Penn State University. He joined the faculty at Montclair State University in July 2011 as the Margaret and Herman Sokol Professor of medicinal chemistry after a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. He is an expert in the discovery and optimization of small molecule drug candidates for use in metabolic, cardiovascular, cancer, and central nervous system diseases. His current research is focused on discovering new lead compounds for use in parasitic and central nervous system diseases. He has coedited the seventh edition of Burger's Medicinal Chemistry and the third edition of Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry. He has authored 50 peer-reviewed articles, is an inventor on 8 issued US patents, and has contributed 10 book chapters.

Simon Ward is currently the Ser Cymru Professor in Translational Drug Discovery and Director of the Medicines Institute at Cardiff University.

Simon has a wide-ranging experience from over 25 years of drug discovery in senior roles in major pharmaceutical companies, biotech & academia (GlaxoSmithKline, BioCrea, Knoll Pharmaceuticals, Vernalis, Chiroscience, University of Sussex, Cardiff University). He has led multidisciplinary project teams for a wide range of diseases. Within academia, he has successfully secured over GBP50M funding to lead a portfolio of drug discovery and clinical development projects. He also has considerable experience of commercial deal making and has multiple additional roles in biotech companies.

Simon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and is an internationally recognised expert in medicinal chemistry leading to many external roles on scientific advisory boards, charity and government funding panels and scientific societies.