Department Faculty

Carlos Catalano

Carlos Catalano PharmD, PhD

Professor
  • Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Email Address:carlos.catalano@cuanschutz.edu

Primary Phone:303-724-0011

Mailing Address:
  • CU Anschutz

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Building

12850 East Montview Boulevard

Office: V20-4118

Aurora, CO 80045

Research in the Catalano lab focuses on three projects; (i) mechanistic interrogation of viral genome maturation and DNA packaging by the viral terminase motor complexes, (ii) molecular mechanisms of viral capsid assembly and (iii) engineering “designer nanoparticles” for theranostic applications. My graduate work in metalloprotein catalytic mechanisms (University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Paul Ortiz de Montellano) and my post-doctoral studies on the enzymology of DNA polymerase enzymes (the Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Steve Benkovic) provided me with the background necessary to study complex biological systems in a rigorous manner. As a faculty researcher at the Universities of Washington and Colorado, I have studied virus assembly mechanisms for over 34 years. My lab has developed integrated kinetic, biochemical, biophysical and structural tools that allow us to dissect motor function in great detail. More recently, we have co-opted phage capsids as a tunable platform for “theranostic” applications.  In addition to generating over 70 peer-reviewed publications, the vast majority of which I was the corresponding author, this work has served to train and mentor young scientists including undergraduate, professional pharmacy, graduate and post-doctoral students. Within this context, I have a long-standing interest and commitment to diversification of the American scientific workforce and the recruitment and training of minority scientists is an important component of my research program. 

Education, Licensure & Certifications

  • B.A. Biochemistry, San Francisco Univerity, 1979
  • Pharm.D. Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco 1983
  • Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco 1987
  • NIH Post-Doctoral Fellow, Enzymology, The Pennsylvania State University, 1989

Affiliations

  • Structural Biology and Biochemistry Program, Anschutz Medical Campus
  • PIKE-PREP: Preparation in Interdisciplinary Knowledge to Excel - Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program 
  • Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)

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