Meet the Team

Confluence Discovery Technologies brings together a talented, diverse team of scientists and professionals with extensive experience in pharma, biotechnology and drug discovery.

Joseph Monahan, PhD

Executive Vice President, Research and Development, St. Louis Site Head

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Dr. Monahan is the site leader of Confluence Discovery Technologies, headquartered at the CORTEX bioscience district adjacent to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. Formerly an Executive Director in the Pfizer Inflammation Research Unit, Dr. Monahan brings over 30 years of biochemical pharmacology and drug discovery experience to his leadership role. He has held many management and leadership positions and has directed several drug discovery programs into Phase 1 and 2 stages of clinical development. As a demonstrated scientific leader he has over 75 peer reviewed publications and 12 patents.

Walter Smith

Senior Vice President, Research and Development

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Mr. Smith brings extensive experience in leadership and development. Formerly the Vice President and Global Head of Pfizer Inflammation/Immunology research therapeutic areas, Mr. Smith has over 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical drug discovery and development. In his various management roles he led licensing and portfolio management teams along with line organizations that have delivered several NCEs to market.

Jon Jacobsen, PhD

Vice President of Chemistry

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Dr. Jacobsen brings over 25 years of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery experience to his leadership role. He previously served as a senior scientist and Director in the Pfizer Chemistry Department. Throughout his career, Jon has held many management and scientific leadership positions. He has directed chemistry and project teams to provide Phase 1 candidates and has also served on discovery teams for compounds in Phase 1 and 2 stages of development. He has over 50 peer-reviewed publications and is an inventor on 45 patents.

Paul Changelian, PhD

Vice President of Biology

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Paul Changelian is an immunologist and research leader with over 25 years experience in drug discovery. His work has focused on several areas, including renal transplantation, autoimmune disease, mitochondrial metabolism and oncology. He has experience in both large pharma (Pfizer) and small biotechnology companies (Lycera Corp. and Infinity Pharmaceutical). During his 18 years at Pfizer, his laboratory was responsible for the preclinical candidate delivery and development of tofacitinib in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, IBD and renal transplant. This drug was approved in 2012 as the first new oral drug for RA in over ten years (Xeljanz). Paul obtained his degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (BS chemistry), Harvard University in Cambridge (Ph.D. in Immunology) and Washington University in St. Louis (postdoctoral fellowship in neurobiology).

Jeff Hirsch

Associate Research Fellow, Operations Manager

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Heidi Hope, PhD

Associate Research Fellow, Cell Biology Lead

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Dr. Hope has 25 plus years of post-doctorate research experience in academic and industrial settings and served as a senior scientist and project lead at Pfizer. Her areas of expertise include biochemistry, cell biology and signal transduction focusing on the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer. Dr. Hope is also involved in science education efforts in the St Louis area and is a Fellow of the St. Louis Academy of Sciences. Dr. Hope received her BS with Honors from Stanford University and her PhD in Biochemistry from Washington University in St Louis.

Joseph Monahan, PhD

Walter Smith

Jon Jacobsen, PhD

Paul Changelian, PhD

Jeff Hirsch

Heidi Hope, PhD

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