Dr. Nicholas Oberlies

Are you a scientist with an interest in entrepreneurship? Or do you enjoy business and have a passion for science? Join us for an engaging discussion with Nicholas Oberlies, Ph.D., Patricia A. Sullivan Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at UNC-Greensboro. Dr. Oberlies leads a team of scientists in the Department of Chemistry and Biology at UNC-G, focusing on the discovery of new drugs from bioactive compounds, mainly fungi.

While on campus, Dr. Oberlies will be a guest lecturer at a forestry class and deliver a presentation entitled, “Scientific Entrepreneurship: A Conversation with a Natural Products Chemist,” at noon, Wednesday, March 22, in the Social Lodge. This lunch lecture is in partnership with the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Earth and Environmental Systems.

After completing a doctorate in medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy at Purdue University and a postdoctoral fellowship at American Cyanamid in Princeton, New Jersey, Dr. Oberlies joined the Natural Products Laboratory at Research Triangle Institute (RTI, N.C.) in 1998. As a research chemist, he was mentored by the co-discoverers of Taxol, a cancer drug that stops the growth of cancer cells and is derived from the extracts of the Pacific yew tree. Dr. Oberlies spent over ten years at RTI, including as the director of Natural Products Laboratory.

In 2009, Dr. Oberlies moved his research group to UNC-G where his team of scientists isolate and study the bioactive compounds from fungi, bacteria, and plants. Assessing the chemistry of these organisms, particularly with respect to chemical defense (for example, the extracts from Pacific yew that are toxic to living cells), has led to the discovery of new drugs and resulted in many preclinical developments. Using the same processes for drug discovery, Oberlies Research Group has worked to develop reference standards for herbal remedies, ensuring their safety and consistency for consumers.

As an entrepreneurial professor, Dr. Oberlies has consulted for a wide range of clients, including Procter & Gamble and biotech start-ups. His chemistry students are trained to be professionals, learning communication skills, public speaking, and the value of “showing up.”

During his talk to Sewanee students, Dr. Oberlies will cover many topics from his scientific entrepreneurship workshop that he developed at UNC-G: patentability of natural products, securing sources of research, attracting a team to help develop a business, and funding early-stage ventures.

Dr. Oberlies has received numerous awards, including the 40 under 40 Leadership Award from the Triangle Business Journal and the North Carolina Distinguished Speaker Award from the NC Section of the American Chemical Society. He is a fellow and past president of the American Society of Pharmacognosy and has served on scientific advisory boards for biotech companies and on editorial boards for several peer-reviewed journals.