Daniel Romo

  

Education and TrainingPost-doctorate
Chemistry, Harvard University Cambridge, MA, March 1991-August 1993
Sponsor: Professor Stuart L. Schreiber
Project: "Total Synthesis of Rapamycin and Designed Variants with Higher Affinity to FKBP (Binding Protein of Rapamycin)"

Ph.D.
Chemistry, Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado, January 1991
Research Advisor: Professor Albert I. Meyers
Dissertation Title: "Diastereoselective Cyclopropanations of Chiral Unsaturated Bicyclic Lactams"

B.A.
Chemistry/Biology, Cum Laude, Texas A&M University College Station, Texas, May 1986
Undergraduate Research Advisors: Professor Kenn E. Harding and Professor Jeffrey C. Pommerville
Senior Thesis: "Synthesis and Biological Testing of Various Analogs of the Female Pheromone of Allomyces macrogynus" Appointments 2003-present Professor, Texas A&M University
1999-2003 Associate Professor, Texas A&M University
1993-1999 Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University
1991-1993 American Cancer Society Post-doctoral Fellow, Harvard University
1987-1991 National Science Foundation Minority Pre-Doctoral Fellow, Colorado State University
 Honors and Awards NIH "Method to Extend Research in Time" (MERIT) Award (2009-2014)
Excellence in Innovation Award, TAMU, Office of Technology Commercialization (2008)
NIH Med Chem A/SBC A Study Section Regular Member (2002-2006)
Pfizer Award for Creativity in Organic Chemistry (2001-03)
Novartis Chemistry Lecturer (2001-02)
Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar (1999-2004)
Zeneca Pharmaceuticals Excellence in Chemistry Award (1998)
Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (1998-2002)
TAMU College of Science: Montague Center for Teaching Excellence Scholar (1997-98)
National Science Foundation CAREER Award (1996-2000)
American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship (1991-93)
Syntex Graduate Fellowship (1990)
National Science Foundation Minority Graduate Fellowship (1987-90)
Shell Foundation Fellowship (1986-87)
Member of the College of Science Dean's Forum (1985-86)
Chemistry Achievement Award (1986)
Outstanding Presentation Award, 5th Annual Texas A&M Undergraduate Chemical Research Conference (April 1986)
Dow Chemical Co. Scholarship (1982-83)
Baumberger Endowment (1982-86)
Edmonds Scholarship (1982-86)
National Hispanic Scholarship Fund Recipient (1984-85; 1986-87)
University Undergraduate Fellow (1985-86)
Spring Award (1983-84)
Opportunity Award (1982-83)
LULAC Scholarship (1982-83)

Lectures and Presentations

2008

ACS Symposium, New Orleans, LA, April 10, 2008

"Biology and Inhibition of Fatty Synthase: A Promising Target for Cancer Chemotherapy", Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA, April 3, 2008

"Total Synthesis Studies Toward Oroidin Alkaloids Premised on Biosynthetic Considerations", Gordon Research Conference, Ventura, CA, February 27, 2008

University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign, February 11, 2008

2007

“Natural Products as Enduring Forums for Total Synthesis and Methodology Development”, ACS Southwest Regional Meeting, Lubbock, TX, November 6, 2007.

“Adventures with Bioactive Marine Natural Products:  Total Synthesis and Mode of Action Studies”, University of San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 15, 2007.

Excellence Empowered by a Diverse Academic Workforce:  Achieving Racial & Ethic Equity in Chemistry, Positive Actions Panel Member, NSF Workshop on Faculty Hiring, Arlington, VA, September 26, 2007.

“Mining Natural Products:  Enduring Forums for Total Synthesis and Biological Probe Discovery”, ICCA-X Conference, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, August 2007.

“Mining Natural Products:  “Working in a Gold Mine!” (not a coal mine)”, 2007 Beckman Scholars Symposium, Newport Beach, CA, July 27, 2007.

“Mining Marine Natural Products:  Enduring Forums for Total Synthesis/Designed Molecules for Therapeutic Target and Biological Probe Discovery”, US/Symposium, Park City, UT, July 5, 2007.

NSF Workshop on Organic Synthesis (Organizer/Presenter) June 20-25, 2007.

“Total Synthesis of (-)-Belactosin C and Derivatives via Double Diastereoselective Tandem Mukaiyama Aldol Lactonizations”, Bio Annual International Convention, Boston, MA, May 7, 2007.

“Total Synthesis of (-)-Belactosin C and Derivatives via Double Diastereoselective Tandem Mukaiyama Aldol Lactonizations”, Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, MA, May 8, 2007.

“Total Synthesis of Oroidin Alkaloids and Salinosporamide” University of Alabama, Dept. of Chemistry, April 19, 2007.

“Synthetic Strategies for Natural Products Premised on Biosynthetic Proposals” Biomimetic Natural Product Symposia (ACS National Meeting) Chicago, IL, March 28, 2007.

“Toward a Systematized Approach of Applying the Information-Rich Content of Natural Products of Chemical Genomics” Manapro XII, Marine Natural Products, Queenstown, New Zealand, February 8, 2007.

2006

Roche, Palo Alto, CA October 3, 2006

Gordon Research Conference. Invited Speaker: Organic Reactions and Processes. July 16-21, 2006

NSF Workshop on Organic Synthesis (Organizer/Presenter), June 1-5, 2006

Synthetic/Mechanistic Studies of Bioactive Natural Products: Enduring Leads for Discovery of Biological Probes and Therapeutics, UC Santa Cruz, March 6, 2006

Synthetic Strategy and Methodology Development Towards the Quest of Mining Natural Product-Derived, Biological Information, UC Riverside, March 8, 2006

Synthetic/Mechanistic Studies of Bioactive Natural Products: Enduring Leads for Discovery of Biological Probes and Therapeutics, Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Pharmacology, Feb. 8, 2006

Synthetic Strategy and Methodology Development Towards the Quest of Mining Natural Product-Derived, Biological Information, University of Texas, San Antonio, Jan. 27, 2006

2005

Pacifichem, Hawaii (2 Invited Lectures: Heteocycles Symposium & Centennial of Ketenes Symposium) December 2005
"Total Synthesis of Heterocycle Rich Natural Products"
"b-Lactones (2-Oxetanones): Targets and Vehicles for Total Synthesis"

"Total Synthesis and Mechanistic Studies of Bioactive Natural Products: Enduring Leads for Biological Probes and Drug Discovery", Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Nov. 1, 2005

IVth European Conference on Marine Natural Products Symposium, Paris, France (Prof. Ali Al-Mourabit, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, Organizer) September 2005

Gordon Research Conference. Invited Speaker: Organic Reactions and Processes. July 16-21, 2005

"Spiro-epoxy b-Lactones: Synthesis, Reactivity and Applications" NSF Workshop on Organic Synthesis (Organizer/Presenter), June 9-13, 2005

Adventures in Organic Synthesis: From Methodology to Total Synthesis to Protein Isolation, Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, May 10, 2005

"Asymmetric b-Lactone Synthesis and Bioactive Natural Product Synthesis" Schering-Plough Symposium on Onganic Synthesis, May 4, 2005

University of Notre Dame, Department of Chemistry, March 2, 2005

Johns Hopkins University, Department of Pharmacology, February 8, 2005

2004

5th Annual UCSD/Merck Symposium on Organic Synthesis, UC San Diego, December 13, 2004

Brigham Young University, November 9. 2004

University of Maryland, Department of Chemistry, October 12, 2004

Proctor & Gamble Organic Synthesis Symposium, “Methodology, Total synthesis, and Protein Isolation Driven by an Awe of Natural Products,” July 30, 2004

UCLA, “Synthetic Adventures with Bioactive Natural Products,” May 3, 2004

Cal-State LA, “Natural Products: Enduring Leads for Drug Discovery,” May 4, 2004

Tarleton State, “Adventures with Bioactive Marine Natural Products: Happenstances or Designed Drug Candidates,” April 15, 2004

UT-Pan American, “Adventures in Melding Organic Synthesis and Biology,” April 12, 2004

Baylor University, “Adventures with Bioactive Marine Natural Products: Happenstances or Designed Drug Candidates,” April 23, 2004

Pfizer-St. Louis, “2-Oxetanones: Vehicles and Targets for Total Synthesis/Synthetic and Mechanistic Investigations of Bioactive Marine Natural Products,” April 19, 2004

Roche Lecturer, Colorado State University, "Methodology, Total synthesis, and Protein Isolation Driven by an Awe of Natural Products," Jan. 12, 2004

2003
University of Iowa, Department of Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry "Synthetic and Mode of Action Studies of Marine Natural Products", December 2, 2003

University of South Florida, Department of Chemistry "b-Lactone Methodology and Marine Alkaloid Studies" October 23, 2003

Gordan Research on Natural Products "Synthetic and Mechantistic Investigations of Bioactive Marine Alkaloids" July 27-31, 2003

US-Japan Conference on Marine Natural Products Chemistry (Invited by Bill Gerwick) Nagoya, Japan, June 22-27, 2003
Sumitomo Chemical Co., Nagoya, Japan "Adventures with Organic Synthesis: From Synthetic Methodology to Total Synthesis to Protein Isolation " June 29, 2003

“Synthetic and Mechanistic Investigations of Bioactive Marine Natural Products”
Oklahoma State University, April 22, 2003
Emory University, April 9, 2003
Oregon State University, March 3, 2003

University of Missouri-Rolla, “Adventures with Organic Synthesis: From Synthetic Methodology to Total Synthesis to Protein Isolation” March 21, 2003

2002

“Adventures with Organic Synthesis: From Synthetic Methodology to Total Synthesis to Protein Isolation”
Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX, Nov. 21, 2002 (graduate recruiting trip)
Texas A&M University Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, Nov. 15, 2002 (graduate recruiting trip)
Texas A&M University, Chemistry Departmental Seminar, Oct. 15, 2002
Keynote Speaker at Pfizer Diversity Symposium, Pfizer, Groton, CT, Sept. 20, 2002

“Adventures in Melding Organic Synthesis and Biology”
Plenary Lecture at Society for Adv. of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
Annual SACNAS Meeting, Anaheim, CA, Sept. 28, 2002

“Progress Towards the Total Synthesis of Axinellamine D and Palau’amine”
American Chemical Society Meeting, Boston, MA, Aug. 20, 2002

“Adventures in Total Synthesis and Biomechanistic Investigations of Complex Natural Products”
Novartis Chemistry Lectureship
Novartis, London (Horsham), England, August 28, 2002
Novartis, Basel, Switzerland, March 13, 2002
Novartis, Vienna, Austria, March 15, 2002

2001

"Marine Natural Products as Probes of Biological Processes" Mentor Talk, NASA SHARP PLUS Program, July 27, 2001
"Synthetic and Biomechanistic Investigations of the Immunosuppressive Marine Alkaloids, Pateamine A and Palau'amine" 10th Marine Natural Products Symposium, Nago, Okinawa, June 24-29, 2001

"Total Synthesis and Biological Studies of Marine Natural Products/Catalytic, Asymmetric b-Lactone Synthesis"
Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd., Osaka, Japan, June 21, 2001
Ube Chemical Industries, Ltd., Ube, Japan, July 2, 2001

"Recent Advances in Bioactive Marine Natural Product and Asymmetric b-Lactone Synthesis"Boehringer-Ingelheim, New York, May 14, 2001
Boehringer-Ingelheim, Laval, Quebec, Canada, May 15, 2001
Biochem Therapeutic, Laval, Quebec, Canada, May 16, 2001
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Candada, May 17, 2001

"Recent Advances in Bioactive Marine Natural Product and Asymmetric b-Lactone Synthesis" Eli Lilly & Co., February 20, 2001
University of Indiana/Purdue University at Indianopolis, February 21, 2001

"Adventures in Organic Synthesis: Total Synthesis of Bioactive Marine Natural Products and Development of Catalytic, Asymmetric Routes to 2-Oxetanones (Beta-Lactones)" IVForo, Fourth Forum of Educational Options in Postgraduate Studies in North America, Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, January 7-10, 2001

2000

"Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies of Bioactive Marine Natural Products" presented at:
UC Santa Cruz, Nov. 6, 2000
UC Davis, Nov. 7, 2000

"A Behind the Scenes Look at Drug Discovery" Conference of American Science Teachers (CAST) 2000, Texas A&M University, Oct. 13, 2000

"Progress Towards the Total Synthesis of Palau’amine and Phakellin" 210th National ACS Meeting, San Francisco, March 27-30, 2000

"Total Synthesis of Marine Natural Products Driven by Novel Structure, Potent Biological Activity, or Synthetic Methodology" Array Biopharma, Boulder, CO, March 14, 2000

1999

"Asymmetric Synthesis and Novel Transformations of 2-Oxetanones; Multimedia Approaches to Understanding the Societal Relevance of Organic Chemistry" National Science Foundation, CAREER Program P.I.Meeting, Washington, D.C., January 10-12, 1999

"Total Synthesis of Marine Natural Products Driven by Novel Structure,Potent Biological Activity, or Synthetic Methodology"
University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany, Nov. 1, 1999
Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop, Berlin, Germany, Nov. 4, 1999
University of Wurzburg, Wurzburg, Germany, Nov. 8, 1999
Indiana University, Nov. 15, 1999
Purdue University, Nov. 16, 1999

"Asymmetric Sythesis and Utilization of 2-Oxetanones/Synthetic and Biomechanistic Investigations of Bioactive Marine Natural Products" given at:
University of Rochester, Feb. 12, 1999
Florida State University Feb. 2, 1999
Univ. of Texas, Arlington Jan. 29, 1999
UT Southwestern, March 11, 1999
Univ. of Arizona, April 19, 1999
Univ. of Utah, April 20, 1999
1998

"Small Heterocycles as Versatile Intermediates for Bioactive Natural Product Synthesis," Zeneca Pharmaceuticals Excellence in Chemistry Award Symposium, Oct. 29, 1998

"Natural Product Synthesis Driven by Structure, Biological Activity, and/or Synthetic Methodology," given at:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, October 9, 1998
University of Kansas, October 8, 1998

"Synthetic Studies Toward Palau'amine and Phakellin" 2000 Gordon Research Conference on Natural Products Chemistry, New England College, NH, July 6-July 10, 1998

"Synthetic Studies Toward the Potent Mairine Toxin, Gymnodimine" 2000 Gordon Research Conference on Natural Products Chemistry, New England College, NH, July 6-July 10, 1998

"Total Synthesis of (-)-Pateamine A: In Search of a Putative Cellular Receptor" 1998 Gordon Research Conference on Natural Products Chemistry, New England College, NH, July 6-July 10, 1998

Current Grants and Contracts

National Institutes of Health (NIGMS), "Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies of Bioactive Marine Agents", 2009-2014

National Institutes of Health (NIGMS), PI D. Romo; Co-PIs G. Vigh, C. Watanabe, Roadmap Initiative:  Natural Product Methodologies “New Methods for Simultaneous Arming and SAR Studies of Natural Products”, 2008-2011

National Science Foundation (NSF), "Novel Asymmetric Routes to 2-Oxetanones and Their Application", 2008-2011

Welch Foundation, "Preparation of Chiral Synthons for Natural Product Synthesis Based on the 2-Oxetanone (b-Lactone) Framework", 2009- 2011

National Institutes of Health (NIGMS), Subcontract from Burnham Medical Research Institute, Director:  Jeff Smith; TAMU PIs: D. Romo, G. Vigh, "Center on Proteolytic Pathways", 2007-2009

 


(C) Romo Group. All rights reserved. (Updated 08/03/09)