Research/Areas of Interest:
My overall scientific goal is to continue contributing research outcomes that lead to improved prevention and therapy of animal and human diseases. Since 2004 at Tufts, my lab has primarily performed research to develop therapeutic agents that prevent or reverse intoxication from bacterial toxins. This work initiated with a focus on botulinum neurotoxin but has expanded to Shiga toxins, C. difficile toxins, anthrax and ricin. We are also developing VHH-based therapeutics to treat enteric pathogens such as Shigella, Cryptosporidia and Enterotoxigenic E. coli. In related work, we are developing immunotheraputics for prevention or treatment of the developing world disease, schistosomiasis. Our major current collaborations are with other Tufts laboratories and laboratories at U. Cal. Irvine (UCI), NY University (NYU), Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, UMass, Northeastern U., Harvard U., Wadsworth Institute, and HDT Bio. Much of our research involves the lab's expertise in the preparation and engineering of immunotherapeutics composed of camelid single-domain antibody binding agents called VHHs or nanobodies. We have leveraged this expertise to attract numerous funded collaborations in which we assist other labs or companies in the production and engineering of these binding agents for their projects. Prior to joining Tufts and since 1987, most research under my direction applied molecular biology tools to the study of host interactions with helminth parasites, and this work continues to a lesser extent.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Iowa, USA, 1979
- BS, University of New Hampshire, Durham, United States, 1975
- PhD, Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
Biography
Professor Shoemaker currently leads research in collaboration with many other academic labs and commercial entities focused on the development and application of therapeutic biomolecules for treating a wide variety of diseases. Most of our therapeutic agents employ single domain antibody (sdAb) binding agents consisting of the VH region of heavy-chain-only Abs (VHHs) from immunized alpacas which have been selected for their ability to bind and potently neutralize critical host or pathogen functions. These simple, stable agents are engineered in a variety of ways to create agents having excellent therapeutic efficacies to reduce or prevent disease pathology in animal models. Employing VHH-based neutralizing agents (VNAs) we have developed novel antitoxin agents for the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of toxin exposures including Botulinum neurotoxins, anthrax and ricin, and toxin-mediated diseases such as from Clostridium difficile and pathogenic E. coli infections. We are working with other labs in the discovery of biomolecular botulism antidotes in which our antitoxin VHH agents are delivered to intoxicated neurons in animals to reverse paralysis. In addition, the lab is developing targeting several microbial and viral pathogens with a focus on those causing enteric disease. The Shoemaker lab has numerous commercial collaborators for which we develop VHH agents that bind specific proprietary drug targets to create novel agents having a wide variety of potential therapeutic applications. Finally, Dr. Shoemaker works with Dr. Patrick Skelly and the Molecular Helminthology Laboratory in research directed to the development of therapeutics and vaccines for parasitic worm infections. Therapeutic targets are identified through studies characterizing the complex host/parasite relationship in nematode and trematode diseases infecting billions of people in the developing world and causing serious economic losses in the animal industries.
Prior to arriving at Tufts in 2003, Dr. Shoemaker led the Animal Health Research Unit at the government-owned research company, AgResearch, in New Zealand. This team of over 60 scientists and staff worked to reduce the impact of disease on the animal industry and to leverage this knowledge for human health benefits. Research in the Animal Health Unit primarily centered on internal parasites and bovine tuberculosis. Dr. Shoemaker had joined AgResearch in 1995 from Harvard University, where his research focused on applying biotechnology to reduce the burden of worm parasitic diseases on the developing world, particularly schistosomiasis.
Dr. Shoemaker received his PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Iowa and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate, Dr. David Baltimore. In 1980, Chuck was one of the original scientists at the formation of Genetics Institute, Inc., a highly successful biotechnology company in Boston that was later acquired by American Home Products and is now part of Pfizer. While at Genetics Institute, he was the leader of several drug development projects, some that resulted in protein pharmaceutical agents now on the market including two currently used to treat hemophilia. Chuck left Genetics Institute to join the faculty at Harvard in 1987 where he began his molecular helminthology research, achieving the level of Associate Professor in 1994.
Prior to arriving at Tufts in 2003, Dr. Shoemaker led the Animal Health Research Unit at the government-owned research company, AgResearch, in New Zealand. This team of over 60 scientists and staff worked to reduce the impact of disease on the animal industry and to leverage this knowledge for human health benefits. Research in the Animal Health Unit primarily centered on internal parasites and bovine tuberculosis. Dr. Shoemaker had joined AgResearch in 1995 from Harvard University, where his research focused on applying biotechnology to reduce the burden of worm parasitic diseases on the developing world, particularly schistosomiasis.
Dr. Shoemaker received his PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Iowa and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate, Dr. David Baltimore. In 1980, Chuck was one of the original scientists at the formation of Genetics Institute, Inc., a highly successful biotechnology company in Boston that was later acquired by American Home Products and is now part of Pfizer. While at Genetics Institute, he was the leader of several drug development projects, some that resulted in protein pharmaceutical agents now on the market including two currently used to treat hemophilia. Chuck left Genetics Institute to join the faculty at Harvard in 1987 where he began his molecular helminthology research, achieving the level of Associate Professor in 1994.