Conference Speakers

Dr. Estep obtained a bachelor’s degree in physics, with honors, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D in biophysics from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. After postdoctoral training in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Virginia Medical School, Dr. Estep began working as a Scientist for the Fenwal division of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, specializing in issues associated with the preservation of blood. Subsequently, Dr. Estep assumed positions of increasing responsibility within the Baxter research and development operations and a leadership role in the development of substitutes for red blood cells. As part of this activity, Dr. Estep organized and directed a team of experts that secured a major contract for blood substitutes development from the US Army Medical Research and Development Command. Subsequently, as Vice President for Research and Development in the Baxter Blood Substitutes Program, Dr. Estep’s team developed the first hemoglobin therapeutic to successfully enter into Phase III testing in both North America and Europe. After the acquisition of Somatogen by Baxter in 1998, Dr. Estep relocated to Colorado and assumed overall responsibility for the integration of the former Baxter Blood Substitutes Program with the Somatogen research and development team, and management of the Boulder site. During this time the Boulder site continued the development of recombinant hemoglobin based blood substitutes, as well as providing support to other Baxter divisions in the development of recombinant protein products. Dr. Estep’s responsibilities included research and development, GMP manufacture of clinical material, regulatory affairs, clinical affairs, and support functions. In the course of his career, Dr. Estep and his group in-llcensed technology from the University of Iowa and established collaborative research relationships with leading universities and research institutes throughout the world. Dr. Estep has authored or co-authored over two dozen scientific papers, given numerous invited presentations, and holds six patents. Today Dr. Estep is continuing to leverage his extensive protein therapeutics product development expertise as President of Chart Biotech Consulting, an independent consulting firm.