“Lab to Marketplace” seminar scheduled for Thursday with guest Robert Shalwitz

ASHLAND, Ohio – Robert Shalwitz, the founder and CEO of Invirsa, Inc., will be the speaker for Ashland University’s fifth annual “Lab to Marketplace” seminar, Thursday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. This year’s event is available to anyone via an on-line webinar at ashlanduniversity.zoom.us/j/91650466675.

Shalwitz’s presentation, “Career Perseverance,” will focus on the development of DNA-stabilizing pharmaceuticals for the treatment of ocular, respiratory and dermatological disease. It is sponsored by the Science Scholars Program in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Morgan Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in the Dauch College of Business and Economics.

Shalwitz’s company is testing compounds that activate cellular pathways that enhance cell survival when challenged with DNA-damaging chemicals, as well as limiting inflammation. These compounds are about to enter clinical trials to determine their efficacy in limiting tissue damage from virus infection or chemical exposures. Invirsa collaborates on this pharmaceutical development with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Biomedial Advanced Research and Development Authority within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Shalwitz is a pediatric endocrinologist with extensive background in clinical research and experience with the Food and Drug Administration. He has led teams to multiple successful new and supplemental drug approvals while at Abbott Laboratories and Reliant Pharmaceuticals. In addition to Invirsa, he founded both Akebia Therapeutics and Aerpio Therapeutics. He spent 10 years practicing medicine and was the medical director for Abbott. Shalwitz earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and an M.D. from SUNY at Buffalo.

The “Lab to Marketplace” seminar series is designed to bring speakers to the AU community who are engaged in translational research, research that uses scientific knowledge to develop new technologies and other applications. It is supported through a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation, which also provides scholarships and academic support for academically talented science students with financial need. The program is designed to provide renewable scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $10,000 to students with unmet financial need declaring a major in the natural sciences and planning to pursue a career in science. It also provides students with peer and faculty mentoring and additional programming through a dedicated career coach and the Center for Academic Support to help them succeed in their education at AU. Further information can be found at ashland.edu/cas/science-scholars.

For information on this webinar, please contact Paul Hyman, professor of biology at AU, at phyman@ashland.edu or 419-207-6309.

Ashland University is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.