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Tony Barbosa, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry
Email:
tony.barbosa@avemaria.edu
Phone:
(239) 280-1584
WhatsApp:
Office:
Henkels 3050

Tony Barbosa, Ph.D.

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Education

  • B.S., Chemistry, Providence College
  • M.S., Organic Chemistry, University of Rochester
  • Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, University of Rochester

About

Professional Experiences

Dr. Tony Barbosa is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and past Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Ave Maria University. At AMU, in addition to teaching chemistry/biochemistry courses, he works collaboratively with fellow faculty and students to design new treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Barbosa also holds a position outside the university as the Vice President of Research for Allosite Therapeutics where he oversees discovery efforts to develop breakthrough medicines, both small molecule and biologics, to treat solid tumors, lupus/lupus nephritis, kidney disease, muscular dystrophy, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Dr. Barbosa has greater than twenty-five years of experience in drug discovery and development. He is the recipient of three NIH SBIR grants: 1R43AI179510 (2023) Integrin-Targeted Novel Oral Therapeutics for Lupus Nephritis - Co-Investigator ($306,500), 1R43AI100499 (2013) - Medicinal Chemistry Based Optimization of Lead Compounds Against Multiple Sclerosis ($600,000), and NIH Niche Assessment Program NIH1063TN (2014) for 1R43AI100499 (~$150,000). He is also the recipient of a Florida Cancer Innovation Fund grant to study the development of Myeloid-Targeted Immunotherapy to Treat Breast Cancer ($750,000, 2024) an Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer's Disease Research Program grant through the Florida State Department of Health 8AZ01 ($100,000). His focus has been in the fields of oncology and immunology & inflammation targeting diseases such as lupus/lupus nephritis, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease.

Prior to his time at Allosite Therapeutics, Dr. Barbosa was Director of Chemistry at Adhaere Pharmaceuticals where he led efforts which moved their immuno-oncology lead CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1) agonist up to clinical trials for solid tumors. (http://bit.ly/cancerclinicaltrial) Adhaere Pharmaceuticals was then purchased by Gossamer Bio, Inc. which took the drug into clinical trials for pancreatic, esophageal, gastric, triple negative breast, castration-resistant prostate, and microsatellite stable colorectal cancers. Dr. Barbosa has extensive experience with medicinal chemistry efforts to balance optimization of efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK) and ADME-T (adsorption, dissolution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) properties.

Before working at Adhaere Pharma, Dr. Barbosa worked at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals on several classes of protein targets such as cell surface adhesion molecules (integrins), GPCRs and kinases where he is responsible for a SoPD (start of pre-development) for the integrin CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1) project. Dr. Barbosa then moved to a small pharmaceutical company, CGI Pharmaceuticals, where in addition to his in-house medicinal chemistry efforts, he was also responsible for designing scientific work for and communicating with outsourced partners internationally.

Dr. Barbosa works closely with students to help prepare them for their lives post-graduation. He has committed significant effort to organizing a web site, DrBarbosa.com, to guide students through their plans to apply for summer internships, enter graduate school, and attend medical school or other health related fields.

Family and Personal Info

Dr. Barbosa has been married for greater than 26 years to his wife, Valerie. He is also a proud father of four children. His oldest son, Antonio, is an assistant editor at EWTN in Alabama. His daughter, Grace Angel, is a graduate of AMU with a double major in Music and Accounting. He also has two teen age sons, Maximilian and John, with whom he spends time enjoying the outdoors.

No items found.
  • "Discerning the Impact of Non-Covalent Interactions via Simulated Crystal Growth: A Structural Study of Aromatic Esters" Boucher, Mairead; Bellia, Sophia; Howarth, Alexis; Collart, Anne; Musozoda , Muhammadiqboli ; Adu, Clinton; Guillet, Gary; Barbosa, Antonio; Fulvio, Pasquale ; Mirjafari, Arsalan; Zeller, Matthias; Hillesheim, Patrick Crystal Growth & Design, Submitted
  • “Examining the Non-Covalent Interactions for Two Polymorphs of a 2,1,3-benzoxadiazole Derivative” Katherine Standish, Matthias Zeller, Antonio J. Barbosa, and Patrick C. Hillesheim Crystals 2022, 12(8), 1143, 21pp., DOI: 10.3390/cryst12081143
  • “Contrasting the Noncovalent Interactions of Aromatic Sulfonyl Fluoride and Sulfonyl Chloride Motifs via Crystallography and Hirshfeld Surfaces” Sophia Bellia‎, Lara I Teodoro‎, Antonio J Barbosa‎, Matthias Zeller‎, Arsalan Mirjafari‎, Patrick C Hillesheim ChemistrySelect 2022, 7(46), December 13, DOI: 10.1002/SLCT.202203797
  • “Pyridinium 3-nitro­benzoate–3-nitro­benzoic acid” Alexis Howarth, Tony J. Barbosa, Matthias Zeller and Patrick C. Hillesheim IUCrDATA ISSN: 2414-3146 Volume 6, Part 6, June 2021, x210581, DOI: 10.1107/S2414314621005812
  • “Chance and Indeterminism in Chemistry”, Third Annual Thomistic Philosophy and Natural Sciences Symposium, Thomistic Institute, Washington, D.C., June 16-20, 2021
  • “Alzheimer’s Update on Research and Treatments”, Interview on ‘Made For Greatness’ on Maria Vision Television Station, September 21, 2021, https://bit.ly/Barbosa_MadeForGreatness
  • “Integrin agonists reduce infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages to promote T-cell mediated anti-tumor immunity” Cancer Immunology Research February 2017 5(3 Supplement):B03-B03; DOI10.1158/2326-6074.TUMIMM16-B03
  • “An integrin agonist suppresses breast cancer by reducing CD11b+ leukocytes, promoting anti-tumor immunity” Cancer Research August 1 2016 76(15 Supplement) A17; DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.TME16-A17
  • “An integrin agonist suppresses breast cancer by reducing CD11b+ leukocytes, promoting antitumor immunity.” An AACR Special Conference on The Function of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression, January 7-10, 2016, Hard Rock Hotel, San Diego, CA .
  • “Discovery and Design of Novel Benzimidazolone Based Inhibitors of p38 MAP Kinase” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters  2006,  16(24),  6316-6320
  • “Toward the Development of a General Chiral Auxiliary. A Total Synthesis of (+)-Tetronolide via a Tandem Ketene-Trapping [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Strategy” Journal of the American Chemical Society  2006,  128(32),  10572-10588
  • “Microwave-assisted synthesis of benzimidazolone libraries.”  Abstracts of Papers, 228th ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States, August 22-26, 2004, ORGN-424.
  • “Discovery and design of novel benzimidazolones as inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase.”  Abstracts of Papers, 228th ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States, August 22-26, 2004, MEDI-218.
  • “Asymmetric Lewis-acid-promoted thio-Claisen rearrangements of N,S-ketene acetals.”  Book of Abstracts, 219th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, March 26-30, 2000, ORGN-014.
  • “Improvement in physicochemical properties for a series of diaminopyrimidine based for PKC theta inhibitors.” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters  In Preparation.

Patents

  • Provisional Patent Application – “Compositions and Methods Involving Integrin Alpha3Beta1.” PCT Int. 2022, 81pp.
  • WO2021061665A1 – “Integrin agonist prodrugs” 2021, 65pp.
  • WO2020205827A1 – “Reagents and assays using modified integrin domains.”, PCT Int. Appl., 2020, 84pp.
  • WO2018126072 A1 – “Preparation of heterocyclic integrin agonists for treatment of cancer.” 2018, 168pp.
  • WO2016201356 – “Solid Forms of (Z)-4-(5-((3-Benzyl-4-Oxo-2-Thioxothiazolidin-5-ylidene)Methyl)Furan-2-yl)Benzoic Acid.” 2016, 117 pp.
  • US Patent 9260415 – “Heteroaryl pyridone and aza-pyridone compounds with electrophilic functionality.” Publication Date: February 16, 2016
  • US Patent 8748607 – “Imidazopyrazine SYK Inhibitors.” Publication date: Jun 10, 2014
  • US Patent 8618107 – “Pyridone and aza-pyridone compounds and methods of use.” Publication date: December 31, 2013
  • US Patent 8598174 – “Pyridazinones, Method of Making, and Method of Use Thereof.” Publication date: Dec 3, 2013
  • US Patent 8575360 – “Derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-5H-imidazo[1,2-a]imidazole-3-carboxylic acid amides.” Publication date: November 5, 2013
  • US Patent 8552205 – “Derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-5H-imidazo[1,2-alpha]imidazole-3-carboxylic acid amides.” Publication date: October 8, 2013
  • US Patent 8455493– “Imidazopyrazine SYK Inhibitors.” Publication date: Jun 4, 2013
  • WO2011140488 – “Preparation of pyridone and azapyridone compounds as Btk inhibitors for treating immune disorders, inflammation, cancer, and other Btk-mediated diseases.” PCT Int. Appl, 2011, 511 pp.
  • WO2010141273 – “Preparation of 6,7-dihydro-5H-imidazo[1,2-a]imidazole-3-carboxamides as inhibitors of the interaction of ICAMs and leukointegrins.” PCT Int. Appl., 2010, 131pp.
  • WO2010068810 – “Certain substituted amides, method of making, and method of use thereof.” PCT Int. Appl. 2010, 84 pp.
  • WO2010056875 – “Pyridazinones and their use as BTK Inhibitors.” PCT Int. Appl. 2010, 301 pp.
  • WO2010068257 – “Imidazopyrazine SYK Inhibitors.” PCT Int. Appl. 2009, 305 pp.
  • WO2009070485 – “Derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-5H-imidazo[1,2-α]imidazole-3- carboxylic acid amides.” PCT Int. Appl. 2009, 322 pp.
  • WO2007076247 – “Preparation of pyrimidine derivatives useful as inhibitors of PKC-theta for treating various diseases.” PCT Int. Appl. 2007, 99 pp.
  • WO2006014482 – “Pyrimidine Derivatives Useful as Inhibitors of PKC-theta.” PCT Int. Appl. 2006, 226 pp.
  • US2006025433 – “Preparation of pyrimidine derivatives as selective inhibitors of protein kinase C theta with therapeutic uses.” U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. 2006, 156 pp.
  • WO2004024699 – “Preparation of benzimidazolones as cytokine inhibitors for treating inflammation.” PCT Int. Appl. 2004, 140 pp.

No items found.
  • "Discerning the Impact of Non-Covalent Interactions via Simulated Crystal Growth: A Structural Study of Aromatic Esters" Boucher, Mairead; Bellia, Sophia; Howarth, Alexis; Collart, Anne; Musozoda , Muhammadiqboli ; Adu, Clinton; Guillet, Gary; Barbosa, Antonio; Fulvio, Pasquale ; Mirjafari, Arsalan; Zeller, Matthias; Hillesheim, Patrick Crystal Growth & Design, Submitted
  • “Examining the Non-Covalent Interactions for Two Polymorphs of a 2,1,3-benzoxadiazole Derivative” Katherine Standish, Matthias Zeller, Antonio J. Barbosa, and Patrick C. Hillesheim Crystals 2022, 12(8), 1143, 21pp., DOI: 10.3390/cryst12081143
  • “Contrasting the Noncovalent Interactions of Aromatic Sulfonyl Fluoride and Sulfonyl Chloride Motifs via Crystallography and Hirshfeld Surfaces” Sophia Bellia‎, Lara I Teodoro‎, Antonio J Barbosa‎, Matthias Zeller‎, Arsalan Mirjafari‎, Patrick C Hillesheim ChemistrySelect 2022, 7(46), December 13, DOI: 10.1002/SLCT.202203797
  • “Pyridinium 3-nitro­benzoate–3-nitro­benzoic acid” Alexis Howarth, Tony J. Barbosa, Matthias Zeller and Patrick C. Hillesheim IUCrDATA ISSN: 2414-3146 Volume 6, Part 6, June 2021, x210581, DOI: 10.1107/S2414314621005812
  • “Chance and Indeterminism in Chemistry”, Third Annual Thomistic Philosophy and Natural Sciences Symposium, Thomistic Institute, Washington, D.C., June 16-20, 2021
  • “Alzheimer’s Update on Research and Treatments”, Interview on ‘Made For Greatness’ on Maria Vision Television Station, September 21, 2021, https://bit.ly/Barbosa_MadeForGreatness
  • “Integrin agonists reduce infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages to promote T-cell mediated anti-tumor immunity” Cancer Immunology Research February 2017 5(3 Supplement):B03-B03; DOI10.1158/2326-6074.TUMIMM16-B03
  • “An integrin agonist suppresses breast cancer by reducing CD11b+ leukocytes, promoting anti-tumor immunity” Cancer Research August 1 2016 76(15 Supplement) A17; DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.TME16-A17
  • “An integrin agonist suppresses breast cancer by reducing CD11b+ leukocytes, promoting antitumor immunity.” An AACR Special Conference on The Function of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression, January 7-10, 2016, Hard Rock Hotel, San Diego, CA .
  • “Discovery and Design of Novel Benzimidazolone Based Inhibitors of p38 MAP Kinase” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters  2006,  16(24),  6316-6320
  • “Toward the Development of a General Chiral Auxiliary. A Total Synthesis of (+)-Tetronolide via a Tandem Ketene-Trapping [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Strategy” Journal of the American Chemical Society  2006,  128(32),  10572-10588
  • “Microwave-assisted synthesis of benzimidazolone libraries.”  Abstracts of Papers, 228th ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States, August 22-26, 2004, ORGN-424.
  • “Discovery and design of novel benzimidazolones as inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase.”  Abstracts of Papers, 228th ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States, August 22-26, 2004, MEDI-218.
  • “Asymmetric Lewis-acid-promoted thio-Claisen rearrangements of N,S-ketene acetals.”  Book of Abstracts, 219th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, March 26-30, 2000, ORGN-014.
  • “Improvement in physicochemical properties for a series of diaminopyrimidine based for PKC theta inhibitors.” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters  In Preparation.

Patents

  • Provisional Patent Application – “Compositions and Methods Involving Integrin Alpha3Beta1.” PCT Int. 2022, 81pp.
  • WO2021061665A1 – “Integrin agonist prodrugs” 2021, 65pp.
  • WO2020205827A1 – “Reagents and assays using modified integrin domains.”, PCT Int. Appl., 2020, 84pp.
  • WO2018126072 A1 – “Preparation of heterocyclic integrin agonists for treatment of cancer.” 2018, 168pp.
  • WO2016201356 – “Solid Forms of (Z)-4-(5-((3-Benzyl-4-Oxo-2-Thioxothiazolidin-5-ylidene)Methyl)Furan-2-yl)Benzoic Acid.” 2016, 117 pp.
  • US Patent 9260415 – “Heteroaryl pyridone and aza-pyridone compounds with electrophilic functionality.” Publication Date: February 16, 2016
  • US Patent 8748607 – “Imidazopyrazine SYK Inhibitors.” Publication date: Jun 10, 2014
  • US Patent 8618107 – “Pyridone and aza-pyridone compounds and methods of use.” Publication date: December 31, 2013
  • US Patent 8598174 – “Pyridazinones, Method of Making, and Method of Use Thereof.” Publication date: Dec 3, 2013
  • US Patent 8575360 – “Derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-5H-imidazo[1,2-a]imidazole-3-carboxylic acid amides.” Publication date: November 5, 2013
  • US Patent 8552205 – “Derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-5H-imidazo[1,2-alpha]imidazole-3-carboxylic acid amides.” Publication date: October 8, 2013
  • US Patent 8455493– “Imidazopyrazine SYK Inhibitors.” Publication date: Jun 4, 2013
  • WO2011140488 – “Preparation of pyridone and azapyridone compounds as Btk inhibitors for treating immune disorders, inflammation, cancer, and other Btk-mediated diseases.” PCT Int. Appl, 2011, 511 pp.
  • WO2010141273 – “Preparation of 6,7-dihydro-5H-imidazo[1,2-a]imidazole-3-carboxamides as inhibitors of the interaction of ICAMs and leukointegrins.” PCT Int. Appl., 2010, 131pp.
  • WO2010068810 – “Certain substituted amides, method of making, and method of use thereof.” PCT Int. Appl. 2010, 84 pp.
  • WO2010056875 – “Pyridazinones and their use as BTK Inhibitors.” PCT Int. Appl. 2010, 301 pp.
  • WO2010068257 – “Imidazopyrazine SYK Inhibitors.” PCT Int. Appl. 2009, 305 pp.
  • WO2009070485 – “Derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-5H-imidazo[1,2-α]imidazole-3- carboxylic acid amides.” PCT Int. Appl. 2009, 322 pp.
  • WO2007076247 – “Preparation of pyrimidine derivatives useful as inhibitors of PKC-theta for treating various diseases.” PCT Int. Appl. 2007, 99 pp.
  • WO2006014482 – “Pyrimidine Derivatives Useful as Inhibitors of PKC-theta.” PCT Int. Appl. 2006, 226 pp.
  • US2006025433 – “Preparation of pyrimidine derivatives as selective inhibitors of protein kinase C theta with therapeutic uses.” U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. 2006, 156 pp.
  • WO2004024699 – “Preparation of benzimidazolones as cytokine inhibitors for treating inflammation.” PCT Int. Appl. 2004, 140 pp.

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