Robert Shoemaker, Ph.D.
About Robert Shoemaker, Ph.D.
Robert Shoemaker, Ph.D., is the Senior Vice President of Research with a Ph.D. in biochemistry from UC San Diego, specializing in computational biology and NGS technologies.
Current Role at Erasca
Robert Shoemaker, Ph.D., currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Research at Erasca. Since its inception in July 2018, he has made significant contributions to the company's research endeavors. Before his current role, he was the Vice President of Biology at Erasca, where he helped to establish and lead the biology research team. His work focuses on advancing drug development and devising strategies conducive to the company's research goals.
Educational Background in Biochemistry
Robert Shoemaker earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego. His advanced studies provided a strong foundation for his career in computational and molecular biology. The expertise he gained during his doctoral work has been instrumental in his roles at various biotech firms where he has applied cutting-edge biochemistry knowledge to solve complex biological problems.
Experience at Ignyta and Contributions
Robert Shoemaker led the computational biology group at Ignyta from the company's inception in 2011 until its acquisition by Roche in 2018. During his tenure, he contributed to the successful development of Ignyta's lead drug candidate, entrectinib, by formulating a patient selection strategy. His leadership in biomarker development significantly aided both preclinical and clinical candidates, strengthening Ignyta's drug discovery pipeline.
Development of Next Generation Sequencing Assays
Robert Shoemaker has been involved in the development of a novel prototype blood-based next generation sequencing (NGS) assay for detecting autoimmune diseases. His earlier work at Illumina, where he helped develop new products and investigate product quality through NGS data analysis, laid the groundwork for this advancement. His experience in NGS technology positions him as a key contributor to innovations in molecular diagnostics.
Career Beginnings and Early Research
Robert Shoemaker began his career as a scientist at Illumina. He played a critical role in developing new products and ensuring product quality through meticulous NGS data analysis. This early stage in his career allowed him to hone his skills in computational biology and biochemistry, setting the stage for his subsequent achievements in the biotechnology field.