Christopher Pacheco

Dynamic biotechnology executive with extensive experience in venture partnerships and business development. Proven track record in strategic planning and commercialization of biotech innovations. Skilled in fostering relationships with venture capitalists and pharmaceutical leaders to drive business growth. Known for developing pioneering biotech companies and facilitating critical industry transactions.

• U.S. Patent number 6,790,641. "Lentiviral vector particles resistant to complement inactivation". Inventors: Cherylene A. Schauber and Christopher D. Pacheco
• U.S. Patent number 6,863,884. "Pseudotyped retroviral vectors". Inventors: Cherylene A. Schauber and Christopher D. Pacheco
• U.S. Provisional Patent number 62/649,392. "Compositions and Methods for reducing Alpha- Synuclein for the treatment and prevention of Parkinson’s Disease" Inventor: Christopher D. Pacheco

• European Patent number 03726520.4-2405-US0313271. “Lentiviral vector particles resistant to complement inactivation”. Inventors: Cherylene A. Schauber and Christopher D. Pacheco

Accomplished Undergraduate Undergraduate Alumnus Award, UVM 04/2024

Every years since 2005, the Department of BIology at University of Vermont recognizes an undergraduate alumnus for their accomplishments in research and science education. Presented keynote lecture to Biology department and medical school students.

Chair, Whitehead Postdoctoral Association, WIBR, MIT 8/2009

The Postdoctoral Association consists of postdoctoral scholars and members of the administration and faculty who have a special interest in issues that are important to Whitehead Institute postdocs and wish to work together on those issues. Specific issues addressed during my tenure included running a data driven study to characterize recently departed alumni and the generation of an alumni database.

Chair, Biomedical Graduate Student Council, University of Michigan 6/2004

The Graduate Student Council consists of two members from all biomedical PhD programs within the medical school, as well as the Biomedical Engineering Program. Programs included involvement with community service, such as an ongoing relationship with the Detroit Community High School science program and directing a “Reverse Science Fair” with neuroscientists from Pfizer.

1. Schauber CA, Tuerk MJ, Pacheco CD, Escarpe PA, Veres G. Lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with baculovirus gp64 efficiently transduce mouse cells in vivo and show tropism restriction against hematopoietic cell types in vivo. Gene Ther. 11(3): 266-75, 2004.

2. Schauber-Plewa C, Simmons A, Tuerk MJ, Pacheco CD, Veres G. Complement regulatory proteins are incorporated into lentiviral vectors and protect particles against complement inactivation. Gene Ther. 12(3): 238-45, 2005.

3. Pacheco CD, Kunkel R, Lieberman AP. Autophagy in Niemann-Pick C disease is dependent upon Beclin-1 and responsive to lipid trafficking defects. Hum Mol Gen. 16(12): 1495-1503, 2007

4. Pacheco CD, Lieberman AP. Lipid trafficking defects increase Beclin-1 and activate autophagy in Niemann-Pick Type C disease. Autophagy. 3(5): 487-498, 2007

5. Hughes ED, Qu YY, Genik SJ, Lyons RH, Pacheco CD, Lieberman AP, Samuelson LC, Nasonkin IO, Camper SA, Van Keuren ML, Saunders TL. Genetic variation in C57BL/6 ES cell lines and genetic instability in the Bruce4 C57BL/6 cell line. Mamm Genome. 18(8): 549-58, 2007.

6. Pacheco CD, Lieberman AP. The pathogenesis of Niemann-Pick type C disease: a role for autophagy? Expert Rev Mol Med. Sep 10; 10; e26, 2008

7. Pacheco CD, Elrick MJ, Lieberman AP. Tau deletion exacerbates the phenotype of Niemann Pick Type C mice and implicates autophagy in pathogenesis. Hum Mol Gen. 18(5): 956-965, 2009

8. Pacheco CD, Elrick MJ, Lieberman AP. Tau normal function influences Niemann-Pick type C disease pathogenesis in mice and modulates autophagy in NPC1 deficient cells. Autophagy. 5(4): 548-550, 2009

9. Elrick MJ, Pacheco CD, Yu T, Dadgar N, Shakkottai VG, Ware C, Paulson HL, Lieberman AP. Conditional Niemann-Pick C mice demonstrate cell autonomous Purkinje cell neurodegeneration. Hum Mol Gen. 19(5):837-47, Epub 2009 Dec 1

10. Dumitriu A, Pacheco CD, Wilk JB, Strathearn KE, Latourelle JC, Goldwurm S, Pezzoli G, Rochet J-C, Lindquist S, Myers RH. Cyclin-G associated kinase modifies α-Synuclein expression levels and toxicity in Parkinson’s disease: results from the GenePD Study. Hum Mol Gen. 2011 Feb 7

-authors contributed equally to this manuscript

11. Dumitriu A, Moser C, Hadzi TC, Williamson SL, Pacheco CD, Hendricks AE, Latourelle JC, Wilk JB, Destefano AL, Myers RH. Postmortem interval influences α-synuclein expression in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsons Dis. 2012; 2012:614212

12. Krishnan R, Goodman JL, Mukhopadhyay S, Pacheco CD, Lemke EA, Deniz AA, Lindquist S. Conserved features of intermediates in amyloid assembly determine their benign or toxic states. PNAS 109(28): 11172-11177, 2012