Gustavo Pesce
About Gustavo Pesce
Gustavo Pesce was a prominent scientist and co-founder of Abalone Bio, where he served as Chief Scientific Officer until his passing in 2021. He specialized in molecular biology and made significant contributions to drug development targeting GPCRs and ion channels.
Work at Abalone Bio
Gustavo Pesce served as Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Abalone Bio since its inception in 2018 until his passing in 2021. He played a critical role in the company's mission to develop innovative drug candidates targeting unmet medical needs in oncology, inflammation, and pain sensation. Pesce was instrumental in establishing partnerships with leading academic laboratories to focus on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ion channels. His work emphasized innovative antibody development techniques, contributing to the advancement of the company's research and development efforts.
Education and Expertise
Gustavo Pesce earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Molecular Biology from the University of Buenos Aires, where he studied from 1992 to 1997. Prior to that, he obtained an Eq. Master of Science (M.Sc.) in the same field from the same institution between 1987 and 1992. His academic background laid the foundation for his extensive career in molecular biology, cell biology, and genetics, where he worked with notable figures such as Peter Walter at UCSF and Roger Brent at the Molecular Sciences Institute.
Background
Born on August 4, 1967, Gustavo Pesce began his scientific journey at the University of Buenos Aires, focusing on gene regulation under the mentorship of Alberto Kornblihtt. He co-founded the algae biofuel startup GPB in 2008 and later worked at various organizations, including UCSF and the Molecular Sciences Institute. His career spanned several years, during which he held significant positions such as Senior Research Fellow and Project Leader, contributing to advancements in experimental and computational systems biology and synthetic biology.
Previous Work Experience
Before his tenure at Abalone Bio, Gustavo Pesce held several notable positions. He worked as a Scientist at Amyris for three months in 2014-2015 and served as Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Next Interactions from 2015 to 2018. Additionally, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at UCSF from 1998 to 2003 and a Senior Research Fellow at the Molecular Sciences Institute from 2003 to 2013. His diverse experience in various research environments contributed to his expertise in molecular biology and synthetic biology.
Achievements and Contributions
Throughout his career, Gustavo Pesce made significant contributions to the fields of molecular biology and synthetic biology. He expanded research initiatives at the Molecular Sciences Institute and worked on industrial synthetic biology projects at Bolt Threads and Amyris Biotechnologies. His collaborations with leading scientists and academic labs facilitated advancements in the understanding of GPCRs and ion channels. Pesce's innovative approaches to drug development aimed to address critical health issues, reflecting his commitment to scientific progress.