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Ronald J. Biediger, PhD

Dr. Biediger is currently the Director of Medicinal Chemistry, Molecular Cardiology Research Laboratories at The Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas where he leads a group of chemists developing small molecule integrin antagonists and agonists for use as therapies, or as adjuncts to cell based therapies, for heart, lung and vascular disease. Show full bio

Dr. Biediger and his team is also developing targeted agents to image vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. Dr. Biediger obtained BS degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry from Texas Lutheran College, followed by a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Texas Tech University. During a postdoctoral fellowship at Florida State University, he was part of the team that completed the first total synthesis of Taxol under the direction of Robert Holton. Prior to his current position at the Texas Heart Institute, Dr. Biediger was Senior Director of Medicinal Chemistry at Encysive Pharmaceuticals, where he directed numerous drug discovery and development projects over fourteen years. These projects resulted in four new chemical entities that have entered human testing (including the VLA-4 antagonist TBC4746) and one other that was selected as a preclinical candidate.

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Texas Heart Institute Positions

Education

  • Undergraduate:

    Texas Lutheran College

  • Postgraduate:

    Texas Tech University

  • Fellowships:

    Florida State University

Honors, Awards and Memberships

Publications

Hickman, A., Koetsier, J., Kurtanich, T. et al. (2022). LFA-1 activation enriches tumor-specific T cells in a cold tumor model and synergizes with CTLA-4 blockade. J Clin Invest 132, e154152. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI154152.
Lokugamage, N., Chowdhury, I. H., Biediger, R. J. et al. (2021). Use of a small molecule integrin activator as a systemically administered vaccine adjuvant in controlling Chagas disease. NPJ Vaccines 6, 114. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-021-00378-5.
Woodside, D. G., Tanifum, E. A., Ghaghada, K. B. et al. (2018). Magnetic resonance imaging of atherosclerotic plaque at clinically relevant field strengths (1T) by targeting the integrin α4β1. Sci Rep 8, 3733. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-21893-x.
Hsieh, Y. T., Gang, E. J., Shishido, S. N. et al. (2014). Effects of the small-molecule inhibitor of integrin α4, TBC3486, on pre-B-ALL cells. Leukemia 28, 2101–2104. https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2014.182.
Vanderslice, P., Biediger, R. J., Woodside, D. G. et al. (2013). Small molecule agonist of very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) integrin induces progenitor cell adhesion. J Biol Chem 288, 19414–19428. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M113.479634.
Vanderslice, P., Biediger, R. J., Woodside, D. G. et al. (2004). Development of cell adhesion molecule antagonists as therapeutics for asthma and COPD. Pulm Pharmacol Ther 17, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pupt.2003.10.004.

Recent News

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The Texas Heart Institute Collaborates with Aviara Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Develop Novel IBD Drug

HOUSTON (Sept. 26, 2023) — Aviara Pharmaceuticals, Inc., through a research collaboration with The Texas Heart Institute® (THI), recently was...

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NIH Awards The Texas Heart Institute $1.14 Million to Develop a Novel, First-in-Class Drug for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

HOUSTON (Aug. 22, 2023) — The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recently awarded The Texas Heart Institute® (THI)...

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Texas Heart Institute Investigators Receive Grant Through NHLBI Catalyze Program

Texas Heart Institute (THI) Molecular Cardiology researchers Peter Vanderslice, PhD, and Ronald J. Biediger, PhD, were recently awarded a grant from...

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