Sumeet Salaniwal
About Sumeet Salaniwal
Sumeet Salaniwal is the Director and Head of Computational Chemistry at ORIC Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he has worked since 2023. He has extensive experience in computational drug discovery, having held senior roles at various biotechnology companies and academic institutions.
Work at ORIC Pharmaceuticals
Sumeet Salaniwal serves as the Director/Head of Computational Chemistry at ORIC Pharmaceuticals Inc. since 2023. His role involves leading computational chemistry efforts to support drug discovery initiatives. ORIC Pharmaceuticals, located in South San Francisco, California, focuses on developing innovative therapies for cancer treatment. Salaniwal's expertise in computational methods enhances the company's ability to design and optimize drug candidates effectively.
Previous Positions in Computational Chemistry
Before joining ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Sumeet Salaniwal held several significant positions in the field of computational chemistry. He worked as the Sr. Director of Computational Chemistry at Kinnate Biopharma Inc. from 2020 to 2021. He then served as Sr. Principal Scientist and Head of Computational Drug Discovery at Olema Oncology from 2021 to 2023. Prior to that, he was the Director of Discovery Informatics at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute for nine years, from 2011 to 2020.
Educational Background
Sumeet Salaniwal has a strong educational foundation in chemical engineering. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering with Honors from Panjab University from 1989 to 1993. He then pursued an M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur from 1993 to 1995. Furthering his studies, he obtained a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, from 1996 to 2000. This academic background supports his expertise in computational chemistry.
Expertise in Computational Chemistry
Sumeet Salaniwal specializes in various aspects of computational chemistry that are crucial for drug discovery. His work includes protein modeling and simulations, protein-ligand docking, and scoring. He conducts library design and analysis, applies QSAR/QSPR data modeling, and performs ADME and toxicity predictions. Additionally, he utilizes pharmacophore modeling and fragment-based drug design to identify and optimize potential drug candidates.
Career Development and Research Experience
Salaniwal's career includes diverse roles that have contributed to his expertise in computational chemistry. He worked as a Computational Chemist at Wyeth Research from 2002 to 2004 and as a Lead Scientist at BIOVIA from 2004 to 2010. He also served as a Scientific Consultant in Cheminformatics at BrainCells, Inc. from 2010 to 2011 and completed a Post-Doc Researcher position at Penn State University from 2000 to 2002. These experiences have shaped his approach to solving complex chemical and biological problems.