Robert W. Buckheit

Dr. Buckheit received a B.S. in Biology from Lehigh University in 1982, a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Duke University in 1986, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989. Since 1989, Dr. Buckheit has been intimately involved in the preclinical development of anti-infective agents with a focus on agents for use against HIV. During this period of time Dr. Buckheit has developed and managed infectious disease research programs for commercial, academic and government clients at both Southern Research Institute and TherImmune Research Corporation/Gene Logic Inc. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Buckheit has managed a variety of multi-million dollar and technically complex federal contracts, hundreds of programs with virtual and small biotechnology companies, research programs with pharmaceutical industry companies, and collaborative programs with academic investigators. Dr. Buckheit’s experience with anti-infective evaluations includes the evaluation of well over 500,000 anti-infective molecules that has resulted in over 175 publications in the peer reviewed literature.

Dr. Buckheit founded ImQuest BioSciences in 2004 and has been the scientific and executive leader of the company since it’s inception, with hand-on involvement in its day to day operations and growth. At ImQuest, Dr. Buckheit has expanded the service and research based capabilities of the company to include the development of small molecules, vaccines, and biologics as treatment and prevention agents for infectious disease (HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes viruses, respiratory viruses, enteric viruses, emerging and potential bioterrorism agents, and pathogenic and drug-resistant bacteria and fungi) and cancer. Under Dr. Buckheit’s leadership, ImQuest BioSciences was named Small Company of the Year by the Maryland Biotechnology Council and the Frederick County Entrepreneur Council honored Dr. Buckheit as Entrepreneur of the Year for 2010.