Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 7/1/2023 12:00:00 AM

Jason N. Moore, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacology Team Lead, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
During my time at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), I have been privileged to be involved in the review of hundreds of investigational drugs. Naturally, these experiences have opened the door for additional lines of research inspired by trends in the data across multiple programs. My proudest professional accomplishments are the grant-funded research projects regarding (1) the use of animal infection models to support antibacterial drug development and (2) the relationship between race/ethnicity and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of cancer therapies that I have been involved in as a principal investigator and co-investigator, respectively. These projects represent part of my contribution to the FDA's effort to leverage the vast experience collected over review of countless products, to synthesize the data to provide the best advice and enact effective policy, and to share the findings with the scientific community – all with the goal of delivering safe and effective medications to patients.

Who has inspired you in your career?

I have been fortunate to have amazing mentors throughout my career. One of my earliest mentors, Dr. Selina Darling-Reed, opened my eyes to the possibilities of drug discovery and development. As kids, whenever my brother and I were ill, our parents would give us garlic tea, which is as exactly as unappetizing as it sounds. I always hated the taste, but my perspective changed when I started volunteering in Dr Darling-Reed's lab at Florida A&M University. Her lab focused on characterizing the observed pharmacological activity of garlic-derived compounds as it was hypothesized to be applicable to breast cancer chemoprevention. This experience inspired my interest in the drug development process with a desire to unlock and refine the potential of all the compounds with promising pharmacological activity around us.

What has been the greatest challenge in your career?
My greatest professional challenge has been changing from a role as a senior clinical pharmacology reviewer supporting infectious disease drug development to a clinical pharmacology team lead supporting oncology drug development. Scientifically, drug development programs for infectious disease and oncology have important distinctions, such as differences in drug targets, molecular modalities, patient populations, and benefit–risk profiles. From a leadership perspective, this meant learning to manage not only my work but also the work of others, most of whom I had never met in person.

The connecting thread between the two therapeutic areas that focused and aided me in the transition was dose selection. Both areas require a systematic and efficient method for dose selection due to a limited therapeutic window for treatment and significant consequences if the wrong dose is advanced – potentially antimicrobial resistance, progressive disease, or mortality if the dose is too low and toxicity if the dose is too high. This perspective gave me a foothold to translate the skills and lessons learned from infectious disease to my new role and to communicate and collaborate effectively with the new team.

When you aren't working, how do you spend your free time?
Outside of work, my hobbies include reading (more specifically, attending book club), dancing, rock climbing, and crocheting. Crochet, in particular, has been a great hobby during the pandemic as it has helped me shift my attention to a more tactile activity at the end of a workday, even if my physical location had not changed having spent all day working from home.

How do you keep focused and motivated?
Considering the impact on patients and healthcare practitioners has kept me focused and motivated. Although I do not practice pharmacy clinically, remaining in touch with my former classmates who do practice clinically has given me an avenue to broaden my perspective. Their experiences and stories keep me focused on the need for better therapies and motivate me to make positive change where I can.

Dr. Moore has been a member of ASCPT since 2014.