Pondera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Science Advisory Board


Eric J. Simon, PhD.

Dr. Simon is credited with the discovery of opioid receptors in 1973 and naming endogenous opioids “endorphins (“endogenous morphine”), in 1976.

Professor, NYU Langone Medical Center  Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, New York, NY
Milhauser Labs, New York, NY

Education

1951 — Dr. Simon received his Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

1951-1953 — Dr. Simon was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Biochemistry at Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY

Research Summary

Dr. Eric Simon’s area of research focuses on the neurochemistry of neuropeptides and their receptors with the main objective of understanding the structure and function of the endogenous opioid system, i.e. opioid receptors and endogenous opioid peptides (endorphins). Dr. Simon is credited with the discovery of opioid receptors in 1973.  In 1976, he named endogenous opioids, endorphins, from “endogenous morphine”.   Research suggests that endorphins have up to 80 times the analgesic potency of morphine!

According to Dr. Simon, “we discovered opioid receptors in 1973 and continue to contribute actively to this area with an interdisciplinary investigative approach from molecular biology to behavioral pharmacology.”   Dr. Simon inspired his close friend and colleague, Dr. Stanley M Crain, to unleash the analgesic power of endorphins, which Dr. Crain has accomplished in his own paradigm-changing discovery of the “bimodal” nature of opioid receptors.  Together, the groundbreaking discoveries of Drs. Simon and Crain led directly to the revolutionary science underlying the development of Endorphinate®.

http://www.med.nyu.edu/biosketch/ejs4/publications

 

Elliot J. Krane, MD.

Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford. CA

Clinical Focus

  • Anesthesia
  • Anesthesia, Pediatric
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndromes

Administrative Appointments

  • Professor, Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine (1994 – present)
  • Professor, Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine (1994 – present)
  • Chief of Pain Management Service, LPCH (1994 – present)
  • Chief of Anesthesia, LPCH (1994 – 2003)
  • Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, University of Washington (1989 – 1994)

View All 8

Honors and Awards

  • Mayday Pain & Society Fellowship, Mayday Fund (2010)
  • Diagnosis and Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndromes in Childhood, Mayday Fund (2008)
  • Phi Beta Kappa, Reed College (1974)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Arizona (1977)
  • Cerebral blood flow in an infant animal model, American Society of Anesthesiologists (1984)

View all 18

Professional Education

Fellowship: Children’s Hospital Boston MA (1983)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital MA (1982)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital MA (1980)
Internship: Massachusetts General Hospital MA (1979)
Recertification: American Board of Anesthesiology , Anesthesia (2009)

View All 12

 

 

Lynn R. Webster, MD, FACPM, FASAM

Medical Director and Founder, Lifetree Clinical Research® & Pain Clinic
Director-At-Large for the American Academy of Pain Medicine

Dr. Lynn Webster is co-founder and chief medical director of Lifetree Clinical Research®. His research interests are diverse. He is keenly interested in working with industry to develop safer and more effective therapies for chronic pain and addiction. He is a leading researcher in exploring the relationship of medications and sleep, with particular interest in analgesic-induced sleep-disordered breathing.

Dr. Webster is board certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine and is also certified in addiction medicine. He earned his doctorate of medicine from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and completed his residency in the University of Utah Medical Center’s department of anesthesiology.

He lectures extensively on the subject of preventing opioid abuse and criminal diversion in chronic pain patients, and has authored numerous scientific abstracts, journal articles, textbook chapters, and a book entitled Avoiding Opioid Abuse While Managing Pain: A Guide for Practitioners. This book was written for clinicians as a guide to sort out the clinical, regulatory, and ethical issues associated with the prescribing of opioid analgesics. It includes step-by-step protocols for assessing patients for the risk of opioid abuse as well as for legally protecting the opioid prescriber. Dr. Webster is co-editor of Pain Medicine’s section on opioids, substance abuse, and addiction and serves as a reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed journals. He was the Interventional Therapies section editor for Practical Pain Management for 2006 and 2007.

Dr. Webster co-founded LifeSource, a non-profit foundation established in 2006 to educate physicians, patients and communities on health issues (with an emphasis on pain-related, scientific and social issues), as well as to fund and conduct research to discover new solutions and hope for improved life. LifeSource’s first project is entitled “Zero Unintentional Deaths.” The campaign was developed to educate physicians, chronic pain sufferers and all communities about the increasingly serious issue of unintentional overdose deaths relating to methadone and other prescription medications, and it aims to eliminate unintentional overdoses from prescribed methadone. His medical expertise has contributed to national news stories addressing the dangers of methadone and other prescription medications, including ABC News’ 20/20 program on Friday, September 22, 2006, and Court TV’s Catherine Crier Live on Wednesday, September 27, 2006.

Dr. Webster is currently on the board of directors for the American Academy of Pain Medicine and was instrumental in launching the Utah chapter. This organization seeks to achieve high medical standards, improve access to pain care and educate all interested parties about the many pain-related scientific and social issues.

http://www.lifetreeresearch.com/executive-management-team/lynnwebster.php

 

 

 

 

Robert W. Ledeen, PhD.

Professor of of Neurosciences/Physiology

University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey at Newark. 1991- Present.

 

 

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

1.         B.S. Chemistry – 1949

University of California, Berkeley

2.         Ph.D. Organic Chemistry – 1953

Oregon State University

PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

1.         Professor of Neurosciences/Physiology; UMDNJ at Newark. 1991- Present.

2.         Professor of Biochemistry in Neurology; Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  1975-1991.

3.         Associate Professor of Biochemistry in Neurology; Albert Einstein College of Medicine. 1969-1975.

4.         Assistant Professor of Biochemistry in Neurology; Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  1963-1969.

5.         Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, Interdisciplinary Program; Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  1959-1962.

6.         Research Associate, Department of Chemistry; Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York City. 1956-1959.

7.         U.S. Army. 1954-1956.

8.         Postdoctoral Fellow in Organic Chemistry; University of Chicago. 1953-1954.

9.         Graduate Teaching Fellow; Oregon State University.  1949-1953.

 

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

International Society for Neurochemistry

American Society for Neurochemistry

American Society for Biological Chemists

American Chemical Society

New York Academy of Sciences

Society for Neuroscience

Society for Complex Carbohydrates

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND HONORS

1.         Member editorial board, Journal of Lipid Research; 1968 – 1976.

2.         Associate Editor, Journal of Lipid Research; 1976 – 1979.

3.         Member editorial board, Journal of Neurochemistry; 1977 – 1982.

4.         Deputy Chief Editor, Journal of Neurochemistry; 1982- 1988.

5.         NIH Study Section, Neurological Sciences; 1976 – 1980.

6.         NSF oversight panel – Neurobiological Program; 1983.

7.         National Multiple Sclerosis Society study section; 1989 – 1994.

8.         Phi Lambda Upsilon — honorary chemistry society; 1951.

9.         Sigma Xi — honorary research society; 1952.

10.       Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award; 1988-1994

11.       Humboldt Foundation Senior Scientist Awardee; 1988.

12.       Visiting Associate Professor, Weizmann Institute of Science; 1970.

13.       Visiting Professor, Centre de Neurochimie, Strasbourg; 1985.

14.       Visiting Professor, University of Cologne, 1988.