Tudor Oprea, MD, PhD
About Tudor Oprea, MD, PhD
Title: Vice President, Translational Informatics
Tudor Oprea, MD, PhD, currently holds the position of Vice President, Translational Informatics. His role involves overseeing the application of informatics to bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical practice, enhancing the process of turning scientific discoveries into real-world medical treatments.
Background: Work at University of New Mexico
Tudor Oprea has held significant roles at the University of New Mexico, including the director for screening informatics and chief of translational informatics. During his tenure, he was instrumental in securing over $24 million in extramural funding for various projects. His contributions focused on advancing informatics methodologies and their application to drug discovery and development.
Career Achievements: Work at AstraZeneca
At AstraZeneca, Tudor Oprea was pivotal in developing the 'lead-like approach' for combinatorial chemistry and fragment-based drug discovery. His efforts in these areas contributed to more efficient identification and optimization of lead compounds in drug discovery pipelines. Additionally, he co-invented the first G-protein coupled estrogen receptor agonist, which has been designated as an orphan drug for uveal melanoma.
Expertise: Machine Learning and Knowledge Management
Tudor Oprea has three decades of experience in utilizing machine learning and knowledge management for target and drug discovery. He has been developing machine learning models since 1989, initially focusing on cheminformatics and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR). His contributions in this field have significantly impacted approaches toward computational drug design and discovery.
Publications and Patents
Tudor Oprea has co-authored over 270 publications and edited two books specifically addressing informatics in drug discovery. His work is widely recognized, being cited nearly 23,000 times. He also holds 10 U.S. patents, reflecting his innovative contributions to the field of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.
Education: Medical and Doctoral Degrees
Tudor Oprea earned an M.D. in general medicine in 1990 and a Ph.D. in molecular physiology in 1992 from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timişoara, Romania. His educational background laid the foundation for his extensive career in translational informatics and drug discovery.