DR VADIM MAKAROV

BIOSKETCH and RESEARCH INTERESTS

Vadim Makarov received his PhD degree in Organic Chemistry in 1992 from the Centre for Drug Chemistry (previously known as the All-Union Research Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute), investigating the reactions of 5-nitropyrimidines with nucleophilic agents and the biological activities of the synthesized compounds.

He then carried out postdoctoral research at the Hans-Knoell Institute in the Dr Walter Werner's Research Group aimed at the isolation and purification of natural antibiotics such as nourseothricin and actinomycin C produced by Streptomyces species. Another area of his research involved the synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of organic thiocyanates.

Between 1994 and 2008, Makarov worked at the Centre for Drug Chemistry, the Research Institute of Organic Semiproducts and Dyes and the State Scientific Center for Antibiotics as a lead senior research scientist on small-molecule drug discovery projects.

He received his DSc degree in Pharmacy in 2003 from the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University for his work on rational design and synthesis of the 4-nitropyrazole and 5-nitropyrimidine derivatives with antitubercular and antifungal activity under the supervision of Dr Vladimir Granik.

In 2009, Dr Makarov joined the Bach Institute of Biochemistry (now a division of the Research Centre of Biotechnology RAS) as Lab Chief of the Biomedicinal Chemistry Laboratory.

Dr Makarov holds inventorship to over 10 issued patents. He is a recipient of the State Scientific Award of the Bundesrepublik Deutschland in 2010 and the Medal of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Russian Federation "For contribution to the implementation of state policy in the field of scientific and technological development" in 2020.

He is the author of a facile synthetic method for the 3^rd generation antiarrhythmic agent niferedil (trade name Refralon). Dr Makarov is best known for his groundbreaking work on the discovery of the anti-tuberculosis original small molecules from the benzothiazinone class BTZ043 and PBTZ169, acting on a new Mtb target — DprE1 — essential for the mycobacterial cell wall synthesis. PBTZ169, named by the INN macozinone, is in Phase II clinical trials.

Dr Makarov’s research focuses on the discovery and development of novel treatment strategies for bacterial and viral infections such as tuberculosis, HIV, cytomegalovirus, herpesvirus, influenza, and rhinovirus. Apart from bacterial and viral diseases, Dr Makarov's research interests aim at the discovery of small molecules for the therapy of neurodegenerative disorders.