Daniel Afosah Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Science Addition A429
540-458-4850
dafosah@wlu.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Education

NIH K12 Postdoctoral Scholarship
(Oct 2018 – June 2021)

Translational GlycOmics Program for Career Development in Glycoscience
Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Postdoctoral Fellowship
(Aug 2017 – Oct 2018)

Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Doctor of Philosophy
(Aug 2012 – Aug 2017)

Pharmaceutical Sciences – Medicinal Chemistry
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Master of Science
(Aug 2008 – Jun 2010)

Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Bachelor of Pharmacy
(Aug 2003 – Jun 2007)

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
First class honors, Deans List (2003 – 2007)
Registered pharmacist in Ghana since May 2009

PROFESSIONAL AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Oct 2018 – Jun 2021 NIH K12 Postdoctoral Scholar, Translational GlycOmics Program for Career Development in Glycoscience, Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Studied the interactions of glycosaminoglycans with proteins.
• Designed and developed fluorescent probes for the study of protein-ligand interactions.
• Mentored and trained one graduate and four undergraduate students.

Aug 2017 – Oct 2018 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Design, synthesis, and biochemical studies of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and GAG mimetics.
• Mentored one graduate student

Aug 2012 – Jun 2017 Research Assistant, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Designed and synthesized over 50 sulfated glycosaminoglycan mimetics targeting thrombin and plasmin using multi-step synthesis employing orthogonal functional group protection and deprotection, cyclization, nucleophilic substitution, halogenation, coupling, and sulfation reactions.
• Conducted biochemical studies to determine potency and mechanisms of inhibition.
• Studied the interactions of glycosaminoglycans with proteins including human neutrophil elastase, glycoprotein D, and p300 histone acetyltransferase.
• Mentored one undergraduate and three graduate students.

Aug 2011 – Jul 2012 Regulatory Officer, Ghana Food & Drugs Authority, Accra, Ghana
• Developed and validated methods for drug products, and analyzed drug products
• Reviewed applications of drug products for registration.
• Planned and conducted pharmacovigilance activities to assess the safety of medicines.

Apr 2011 – Jul 2011 Quality Control Pharmacist, Ernest Chemist Ltd., Tema, Ghana
• Developed and validated HPLC methods for the analysis of over-the-counter analgesics.
• Conducted routine analysis of pharmaceutical products to ensure quality.
• Trained four production staff on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines.
• Conducted quality audits of the production and packaging activities of the company.

Jan 2010 – Dec 2010 Superintendent Pharmacist, Pokupharma Ltd., Kumasi, Ghana
• Monitored the procurement, safe storage, and distribution of medicines and trained sales representatives.

Research

Studies glycosaminoglycan-based chemical entities for anti-inflammatory and thrombopoietic activity. Our research employs synthetic organic chemistry, computer-aided drug design, and biochemical techniques to develop compounds that target proteins implicated in inflammation and thrombopoiesis.

Teaching

July 2021 – Present
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
• Chem 341: Biochemistry 1
• Chem 110: General Chemistry

Aug 2017 – May 2018
Adjunct Faculty, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
• Prepared and delivered pre-lab lecture materials for Chem 206 (Organic Chemistry II).
• Instructed and supervised undergraduate students in laboratory sessions.
• Prepared, administered, and graded quizzes, lab reports, and examinations.

Aug 2012 – Jul 2015
Teaching Assistant, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Tutored and graded PharmD students in the underlisted courses
o Foundations I, II and III courses (PHAR 523, PHAR 524, PHAR534).
o Pharmaceutical Principles for the Practicing Pharmacist course (MEDC527).
o Pharmacy Informatics (PHAR 567).
• Tutored PharmD students in biochemistry, and organic and medicinal chemistry.
• Tutored PharmD and graduate students, and guided five (5) students with their research projects in the Advanced Molecular Modeling Theory and Practice course (MEDC670).

Aug 2007 – May 2010
Teaching Assistant, School of Pharmacy, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
• Guided pharmacy students in pharmaceutical chemistry laboratory exercises.
• Tutored pharmacy students in biochemistry, medicinal, and analytical chemistry.
• Proctored and graded exams in biochemistry, medicinal, and analytical chemistry.

Selected Publications

PUBLISHED PAPERS

1. Boothello, R. S.; Sankaranarayanan, N.V.; Afosah, D. K.; Karuturi, R.; Al-Horani, R. A.; and Desai, U. R. Studies on Fragment-Based Design of Allosteric Inhibitors of Human Factor Xia. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2020, 28, 1101 – 1105. (PMID: 29459207)

2. Afosah, D. K.; Al-Horani, R. A. Sulfated Non-Saccharide Glycosaminoglycan Mimetics as Novel Drug Discovery Platform for Various Pathologies. Curr. Med. Chem. 2020, 27, 3412 – 3447. (PMID: 30457046)

3. Al-Horani, R. A.; Abdelfadiel, E. I.; Afosah D. K.; Morla, S.; Sistla, J. C.; Mohammed, B.; Martin, E. J.; Sakagami, M.; Brophy, D. F.; Desai, U. R. J. Thromb Haemost. 2019, 17, 2110 – 2122. (PMID: 31397071)

4. Morla, S.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Afosah, D. K.; Kumar, M.; Kummarapurugu, A. B.; Voynow, J. A.; Desai, U. R. On the Process of Discovering Leads that Target the Heparin‐Binding Site of Neutrophil Elastase in the Sputum of Cystic Fibrosis Patients. J. Med. Chem. 2019, 62, 5501 – 5511. (PMID: 31074986)

5. Patel, N. V.; Patel, D. V.; Kanhed, A. M.; Patel, S. P.; Patel, K. V.; Afosah, D. K.; Desai, U. R.; Karpoormath, R.; Yadav, M. R. 2‐Aminobenzamide‐Based Factor Xa Inhibitors with Novel Mono‐ and Bi‐Aryls as S4 Binding Elements. ChemistrySelect. 2019, 4, 802 – 809.

6. Gangji, R.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Elste, J.; Al-Horani, R. A.; Afosah, D. K.; Joshi, R.; Tiwari, V.; Desai, U. R. Inhibition of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Entry into Human Cells by Non-Saccharide Glycosaminoglycan Mimetics. ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 2018, 9, 797 – 802. (PMID: 30128070)

7. Kummarapurugu, A.; Afosah, D. K.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Gangji, R.; Zheng, S.; Kennedy, T.; Rubin B. K.; Desai, U. R.; Voynow, J. A. Molecular Principles for Heparin Oligosaccharide-Based Inhibition of Neutrophil Elastase in Cystic Fibrosis. J. Biol. Chem. 2018, 293, 12480 – 12490. (PMID: 29903912) (Co-first authorship)

8. Al-Horani, R. A.; Afosah, D. K. Recent Advances in the Discovery and Development of Factor XI/XIa Inhibitors. Med. Res. Rev. 2018, DOI: 10.1002/med.21503. (PMID: 29727017)

9. Afosah, D. K.; Verespy, S; Al-Horani, R. A.; Boothello, R. S.; Karuturi, R.; Desai, U. R. A Small Group of Sulfated Benzofurans Induce Steady-State Submaximal Inhibition of Thrombin. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2018, 28, 1101–1105. (PMID: 29459207)

10. Afosah, D. K.; Al-Horani, R. A.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Desai, U, R. Potent, Selective, Allosteric Inhibition of Human Plasmin by Sulfated Non-Saccharide Glycosaminoglycan Mimetics. J. Med. Chem. 2017, 60, 641–657. (PMID: 27976897)

11. Zheng, S.; Kummarapurugu, A.; Afosah, D. K.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Boothello, R. S.; Desai, U. R.; Kennedy, T.; Voynow, J. A. 2-O, 3-O Desulfated Heparin Blocks High Mobility Group Box 1 Release by Inhibition of p300 Acetyltransferase Activity. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 2017, 56, 90 – 98. (PMID: 27585400)

12. Al-Horani, R. A.; Karuturi, R.; Lee, M.; Afosah, D. K.; Desai, U. R. Allosteric Inhibition of Factor XIIIa. Non-Saccharide Glycosaminoglycan Mimetics, but Not Glycosaminoglycans, Exhibit Promising Inhibition Profile. PLoS One 2016, 11: e0160189. (PMID: 27467511)

13. Verespy, S.; Mehta, A. Y.; Afosah, D.; Al-Horani, R. A.; Desai, U. R. Allosteric Partial Inhibition of Monomeric Proteases. Sulfated Coumarins Induce Regulation, Not Just Inhibition, of Thrombin. Sci. Rep. 2016, 6, 24043. (PMID: 27053426)

BOOK CHAPTER

1. Afosah D. K.; Morla S.; Campbell, C.; Desai U. R. Natural products for Cardiovascular Diseases Treatment. In Pharmacognosy – Current Herbal Medicine and Natural Product Chemistry for PharmD Curriculum, 1st Ed.; Zhang Y. Ed.; Cognella: San Diego, 2021; pp 161–210 (Co-corresponding author)

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

1. Heparin: Beyond its Use as an Anticoagulant – University of Ghana School of Pharmacy Seminar Series, Accra, Ghana (Nov 2019)

2. Specificity of Glycosaminoglycan Interactions with Proteins. – 2nd Annual Great Lakes Translational Glycomics Symposium, Milwaukee, WI (May 2019)

3. Glycosaminoglycans and Glycosaminoglycan Mimetics as Human Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitors for Cystic Fibrosis Management. – ASBMB Annual Meeting/Experimental Biology 2019, Orlando, FL (April 2019)

4. Identification of Defined Glycosaminoglycan Sequences for Human Neutrophil Elastase Inhibition. - NIH Programs of Excellence in Glycosciences, Inter PEG 2018, San Diego, CA (March 2018)

5. Improving the Side Effect Profile of Anticoagulants Using Thrombin Allosterism. – Virginia Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Fredericksburg, VA (May 2016)

6. Interaction of 2-O,3-O-Desulfated Heparin with p300 Histone Acetyltransferase. – NIH Programs of Excellence in Glycosciences, Inter PEG 2016, Bethesda, MD (April 2016)

7. Computational Design of Direct Allosteric Thrombin Inhibitors. – Virginia Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Harrisonburg, VA (May 2015)

SELECTED POSTER PRESENTATIONS

1. Afosah, D. K.; Ongolu, R. K.; Nelson, K. T.; Desai, UR. A Strategy Based on Photo-affinity Probe and Proteomics to identify the Interactome of Non-Saccharide Glycosaminoglycan Mimetics – Society for Glycobiology Annual Meeting, Virtual (Nov 2020)

2. Afosah, D. K.; Sankaranarayanan, N. V.; Desai, U. R. Many Apparently Non-Selective GAG – Protein Systems May Exhibit Interesting Selectivity Features: The Case of Human Neutrophil Elastase. – Society for Glycobiology Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ (Oct 2019)

3. Afosah, D. K.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Morla, S.; Kumar, M.; Ganji R. N.; Kummarapurugu, A.; Zheng, S.; Voynow, J. A.; Desai, U. R. Glycosaminoglycans and Glycosaminoglycan Mimetics as Human Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitors for Cystic Fibrosis Management. – ASBMB Annual Meeting/Experimental Biology 2019, Orlando, FL (April 2019)

4. Afosah, D. K.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Morla, S.; Kumar, M.; Ganji R. N.; Kummarapurugu, A.; Zheng, S.; Voynow, J. A.; Desai, U. R. Inhibition of Human Neutrophil Elastase by Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) And Non-Saccharide GAG Mimetics. Medicinal Chemistry Gordon Research Conference, New London, NH (August 2018)

5. Afosah, D. K.; Kummarapurugu, A.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Zheng, S.; Kennedy, T.; Rubin B. K.; Voynow, J. A.; Desai, U. R. Non-Anticoagulant Glycosaminoglycans as Anti-Neutrophil Elastase Agents in the Management of Cystic Fibrosis. – Virginia Drug Discovery Rx, Arlington, VA (June 2018)

6. Afosah, D. K.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Kumar, M.; Kummarapurugu, A.; Zheng, S.; Voynow, J. A.; Desai, U. R. Identification of Defined Glycosaminoglycan Sequences for Human Neutrophil Elastase Inhibition. – NIH Programs of Excellence in Glycosciences, Inter PEG 2018, San Diego, CA (March 2018)

7. Afosah, D. K.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Kumar, M.; Kummarapurugu, A.; Zheng, S.; Voynow, J. A.; Desai, U. R. The interaction of neutrophil elastase with Heparin. Sorting elements of Specificity. – NIH Programs of Excellence in Glycosciences, Inter PEG 2017, Bethesda, MD (April 2017)

8. Afosah, D. K.; Al-Horani, R. A.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Umesh R. Desai. Sulfated Diflavonoids are Potent, Selective, and Allosteric Inhibitors of Human Plasmin. – 68th Southeastern Regional Meeting of the ACS, Columbia, SC (October 2016)

9. Afosah, D. K.; Verespy, S.; Boothello, R.; Karuturi R.; Desai, U. R. Reducing Bleeding Risks of Anticoagulants Through a Novel Partial Inhibition Approach. – 252nd American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, Philadelphia, PA (August 2016).

10. Afosah, D.; Sankaranarayanan, NV.; Zheng, S.; Kummarapurugu, A.; Boothello, R. S.; Voynow, J. A.; Desai, U. R. Interaction of 2-O,3-O-Desulfated Heparin With p300 Histone Acetyltransferase. – NIH Programs of Excellence in Glycosciences, Inter PEG 2016, Bethesda, MD (April 2016)

Professional & Research Experience

Oct 2018 – Jun 2021
NIH K12 Postdoctoral Scholar, Translational GlycOmics Program for Career Development in Glycoscience, Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Studied the interactions of glycosaminoglycans with proteins.
• Designed and developed fluorescent probes for the study of protein-ligand interactions.
• Mentored and trained one graduate and four undergraduate students.

Aug 2017 – Oct 2018
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery, and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Design, synthesis, and biochemical studies of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and GAG mimetics.
• Mentored one graduate student

Aug 2012 – Jun 2017
Research Assistant, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Designed and synthesized over 50 sulfated glycosaminoglycan mimetics targeting thrombin and plasmin using multi-step synthesis employing orthogonal functional group protection and deprotection, cyclization, nucleophilic substitution, halogenation, coupling, and sulfation reactions.
• Conducted biochemical studies to determine potency and mechanisms of inhibition.
• Studied the interactions of glycosaminoglycans with proteins including human neutrophil elastase, glycoprotein D, and p300 histone acetyltransferase.
• Mentored one undergraduate and three graduate students.

Aug 2011 – Jul 2012
Regulatory Officer, Ghana Food & Drugs Authority, Accra, Ghana
• Developed and validated methods for drug products, and analyzed drug products
• Reviewed applications of drug products for registration.
• Planned and conducted pharmacovigilance activities to assess the safety of medicines.

Apr 2011 – Jul 2011
Quality Control Pharmacist, Ernest Chemist Ltd., Tema, Ghana
• Developed and validated HPLC methods for the analysis of over-the-counter analgesics.
• Conducted routine analysis of pharmaceutical products to ensure quality.
• Trained four production staff on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines.
• Conducted quality audits of the production and packaging activities of the company.

Dec 2010 – Mar 2011
Retail Pharmacist, Unicom Chemists Ltd., Accra, Ghana
• Supervised two pharmacy assistants and a pharmacy technician.
• Monitored prescriptions and counseled patients to ensure the safe use of medicines.
Jan 2010 – Dec 2010
Superintendent Pharmacist, Pokupharma Ltd., Kumasi, Ghana
• Monitored the procurement, safe storage, and distribution of medicines and trained sales representatives.

Service

Sep 2019 – Apr 2020 Co-chair, Great Lakes Translational Glycomics Symposium, Milwaukee, WI
• Selected and invited speakers and potential sponsors for the symposium.
Jan 2019 – Present Organizer and Mentor, Saturdays with Scientists at Henrico Middle Schools, Henrico, VA. (L. Douglas Wilder and Rolfe Middle Schools)
• Program aimed at encouraging minority participation in the sciences.
• Championed the establishment of the program.
• Recruit volunteers, design experiments and prepare materials, mentor and guide middle school students.

Jan 2017 – Feb 2019 Mentor, Higher Achievement, Richmond, VA
• Mentored and tutored middle school students in mathematics.
Jan 2017 – Apr 2017 Future GlycoGen Leader, Inter-PEG Annual Meeting, Bethesda, MD
• One of the six leaders for young researchers in the NIH Programs of Excellence in Glycosciences.
• Planned the 2017 Inter-PEG Meeting in Bethesda, MD.

Jan 2017 – Feb 2019 Judge, Virginia Junior Academy of Science (VJAS), VA
• Judge for VJAS middle and high school competitions since 2016.

Jan 2016 – Jan 2017 President, Association of African Graduate Students at VCU
• Championed the formation of the organization.
• First president of the association.

Aug 2015 – Jul 2016 Vice Chair, Medical Sciences Division, Virginia Academy of Science
• Planned activities of the division.
• Chaired sessions at the 2016 VAS Annual Meeting.

Jan 2015 – May 2016 President, Medicinal Chemistry Graduate Students Assoc. at VCU (VCU MEDI GSA)
• Represented the student body at Graduate Advisory Board meetings
• Gave a presentation on the VCU MEDI GSA at the ACS MEDI Executive Committee Meeting at the 252nd ACS National Meeting and Exposition in Philadelphia, PA.
• VCU MEDI GSA was adopted as a model student association during my term.

Jan 2014 – Dec 2014 Vice President, VCU MEDI GSA
• Instituted a student-led workshop series to train students and postdoctoral fellows on research techniques.

REVIEWING ACTIVITY
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
• Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group)

HONORS AND AWARDS

Nov 2020 Best Poster Award, Society for Glycobiology Annual Meeting
Sep 2019 Society for Glycobiology Travel Award
Apr 2019 ASBMB IMAGE Grant-Writing Workshop Award
Jan 2019 ASBMB Postdoctoral Researcher Travel Award
Oct 2018 NIH K12 Scholarship, Translational GlycOmics Program for Career Development in
Glycoscience (3-year award for research training in Glycosciences)
Jul 2018 Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship (Award to attend and present a poster at the
2018 Medicinal Chemistry Gordon Research Conference).
May 2017 VCU School of Pharmacy Rector and Rorrer Award for Graduate Studies (Award for
demonstrating excellence in research, scholarship, teaching, and service).
May 2017 VCU School of Pharmacy Blake Putney Award (Award in recognition of outstanding scholarship).
Apr 2017 VCU School of Pharmacy J. Doyle Smith Award (Award for most outstanding Medicinal
Chemistry student in the areas of research, teaching, and service).
May 2016 VCU School of Pharmacy Graduate Travel Award
Apr 2016 VCU Phi Kappa Phi School of Pharmacy Scholarship Award
Feb 2016 Outstanding Poster Presentation, VCU ISBDDD 3D Summit
Apr 2014 VCU Phi Kappa Phi School of Pharmacy Scholarship Award
Aug 2013 VCU Department of Medicinal Chemistry Best Seminar Award

PROFESSIONAL & HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

2019 – Present Society for Glycobiology
2018 – Present American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2015 – Present - Virginia Academy of Science
2015 – Present Rho Chi Honor Society
2014 – Present American Chemical Society
2013 – Present Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
2013 – Present
2009 – Present Alpha Epsilon Lambda Honor Society
Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana