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Dan Whalen
Associate Director, Head of Structural Biology at insitro
Professional Background
Dan Whalen is a distinguished Lead Structural Biologist at insitro, where his expertise in X-ray crystallography and protein chemistry position him as a valuable asset in advancing structural analysis for drug development. With over a decade of experience in optimizing expression, purification, and structure solution of complex and biomedically significant proteins, his work has been pivotal in the fields of molecular biology and pharmacology.
Prior to his current role, Dan served as Associate Director of Structural Biology at insitro, demonstrating leadership in a dynamic research environment. His professional journey has been marked by his tenure at REVOLUTION Medicines, where he held the positions of Senior Scientist and Scientist II in Structural Biology and Biophysics. At REVOLUTION Medicines, he was instrumental in building and managing a high-throughput crystallography laboratory that supported Structure-Based Drug Design, enabling the discovery of new therapeutic agents.
Dan's record reflects a deep commitment to solving challenging scientific questions. He has successfully elucidated numerous monomeric and co-complex structures with small molecule ligands, drugs, protein-protein interactions (PPIs), and polysaccharides, leading to insights into their function and structure-activity relationships (SAR). His hands-on experience crosses a wide range of protein classes, including soluble, membrane, secreted/glycosylated, mammalian, bacterial, and viral proteins.
His role extends beyond structural elucidation; Dan is also a skilled protein engineer, deploying various design methodologies to create and analyze novel protein constructs. Utilizing an array of biophysical methods, he probes the intricate biology underlying protein interactions and functions. His expertise encompasses several advanced techniques, including Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Analytical Ultracentrifugation (AUC), Electron Microscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Size Exclusion Chromatography coupled with Multi-Angle Light Scattering (SEC-MALS).
Education and Achievements
Dan's academic foundation is rooted in his studies at the prestigious University of Oxford, where he earned a DPhil in Clinical Medicine with a focus on Structural Biology and an MBiochem degree in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. His education at such a renowned institution honed his skills and provided him with a rigorous understanding of molecular science, which he applies daily in his current research endeavors.
Dan has contributed to numerous high-impact publications in world-class scientific journals, showcasing his substantial research contributions and thought leadership in the field. His published work reflects his innovative approach and the significance of his findings in advancing scientific knowledge and techniques related to protein structure and function. For a comprehensive list of his publications, you can visit his Google Scholar Page.
Notable Achievements
- High-throughput Crystallography Laboratory: Successfully built and managed a state-of-the-art high-throughput crystallography laboratory at REVOLUTION Medicines, driving advancements in Structure-Based Drug Design.
- Variety of Protein Structures: Solved a multitude of monomeric and co-complex structures, significantly contributing to the understanding of drug interactions and biological functions.
- Expertise in Protein Engineering: Developed and interrogated diverse protein constructs, revealing novel biological insights, and furthering the field of protein biochemistry.
- Prolific Author: Authored multiple publications in leading scientific journals, underscoring his expertise and ongoing contributions to structural biology.
- Diverse Experience Across Laboratories: Gained invaluable experience from various prestigious institutions, including Genentech and the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, crafting a well-rounded and deep understanding of structural biology and biophysics.
tags':['Structual Biology','Lead Structural Biologist','X-ray Crystallography','Protein Chemistry','Biomedically Relevant Proteins','High-throughput Crystallography','Structure Based Drug Design','Protein Biochemistry','Protein Engineering','Biophysical Methods','.','Publications in Scientific Journals','University of Oxford','Clinical Medicine','Senior Scientist','Scientist II','Postdoctoral Research Fellow'],
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