Robert Gourdie

Synopsis:

Dr. Gourdie’s research is on the connexins - proteins key to intercellular communication. His work includes basic mechanisms of cardiac bio-electricity and translational research on drugs targeting connexin function in heart disease, wound healing and oncology. His teaching interests are focused on biomedical intellectual property, translation and commercialization.

Description:

Research on connexin research in cardiac electrical excitation spread – including new ideas on how conduction of electrical impulses in the heart occurs via an ephaptic mechanism.  Studies of how connexin hemichannels are involved in determining injury severity following heart attack, stroke and traumatic brain injury.  Drug discovery – development and testing of new compounds targeting connexin channels for use in diseases of the heart and brain, wound healing, and cancer.  Research on how connexins are involved in the development of drug resistance of glioblastoma brain cancer patients being treated anti-cancer drugs.  Dr. Gourdie is co-founder of FirstString Research Inc. - a clinical-stage biotech company, now in Phase III clinical trials on its lead drug Granexin TM . The lead compound, alphaCT1 was developed in the Gourdie Lab at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2009. It is the active ingredient in Granexin gel for scar reduction of acute surgical wounds and the treatment of chronic wounds – diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers.  Dr. Gourdie has spun-off two further companies from his Virginia Tech lab: Acomhal Inc., which is undertaking preclinical development of novel drug JM2 that targets cancer stem cells, and presently closing on its first venture deal. His most recent venture is The Tiny Cargo Company focused on exosomal drug delivery technology that will protect therapeutic peptide from breakdown in body fluids, such as the blood, as well as shielding these potentially immunogenic peptides from the immune system.