Walter Moos, PhD
Professor
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
School of Pharmacy

He is Past President of Biosciences at the independent nonprofit Stanford Research Institute (SRI International), where he spent more than a decade, until 2016. Moos also managed corporate IT Services at SRI. Earlier he was Chairman/CEO of MitoKor (Micrologics/Migenix) and a VP at Chiron (Novartis) and at Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis (Pfizer). He and his teams have made significant contributions to all R&D phases from early-stage research on chemical and biological therapeutics and diagnostics to marketed pharmaceutical products. They have done this with the support of VCs, foundations, government agencies, big pharma, and many others. Moos has served on more than 20 business and scientific boards, public and private, non-profit and for-profit, including Alnis, Amunix (Sanofi), Anterion, Aprinoia, Axiom (Sequenom), the Biotechnology Innovation (Industry) Organization (BIO), Circle, the Critical Path Institute, Global Blood (Pfizer), Keystone Symposia, Mimotopes (Fisher/Thermo), MitoKor (Micrologics/Migenix), Oncologic (Aduro/Chinook/Novartis), Onyx (Amgen), Rigel, ShangPharma Innovation, Valitor, and the Virginia University Research Partnership. He has advised companies on several continents and served as a committee member for academic, government, and investor groups, including the US National Academy of Sciences. He has co-founded several scientific journals, co-authored or edited multiple books, and has more than 200 publications including patents. Moos has held faculty positions at several major universities and received PhD and AB degrees in chemistry from UC Berkeley and Harvard, respectively.

• Epilepsy: Mitochondrial connections to the 'Sacred' disease.
  Mitochondrion 2023 Moos WH, Faller DV, Glavas IP, Kanara I, Kodukula K, Pernokas J, Pernokas M, Pinkert CA, Powers WR, Sampani K, Steliou K, Vavvas DG
• Managing the Drug Discovery Process: Insights and advice for students, educators, and practitioners; 2nd edition, 682 pages
  Managing the Drug Discovery Process: Insights and advice for students, educators, and practitioners; 2nd edition, 682 pages 2023 Miller S, Moos W, Munk B, Munk S, Hart C, Spellmeyer D
• Future of Health & Healthcare Roundtable
  Future of Health & Healthcare Roundtable 2022 Moos W, Jeffrey W, Haurwitz R, Love T, Mammen M, Murphy J, Rubin A, Wu J, Witkay P
• New Venture Financing
  New Venture Financing 2021 Moos W, Loren S, Wincek R, Lo de Janvry L
• Supporting US public health experts
  Nat Biotechnol 2020 Cohen R, Francois C, Crowley J, Hastings P, King R, Love TW, Maraganore J, McMurry-Heath M, Levin J, Co-Signatories …Moos W…
• Klotho Pathways, Myelination Disorders, Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Epigenetic Drugs.
  BioResearch open access 2020 Moos WH, Faller DV, Glavas IP, Harpp DN, Kanara I, Mavrakis AN, Pernokas J, Pernokas M, Pinkert CA, Powers WR, Sampani K, Steliou K, Vavvas DG, Zamboni RJ, Kodukula K, Chen X
• Chinese scientists and US leadership in the life sciences
  Nat Biotechnol 2019 Holtzman SH, Cohen R, Levin JM, Maraganore J, Signatories to the Statement … Moos WH …
• A New Approach to Treating Neurodegenerative Otologic Disorders.
  BioResearch open access 2018 Moos WH, Faller DV, Glavas IP, Harpp DN, Irwin MH, Kanara I, Pinkert CA, Powers WR, Steliou K, Vavvas DG, Kodukula K
• Drug Discovery: Current Trends in Medicinal Chemistry
  Drug Discovery: Current Trends in Medicinal Chemistry 2018 Moos WH, Wang GX, Koltun DO, Ndubaku C, Harstad EB
• Mitochondrial Dysfunction by Drug and Environmental Toxicants, Vol. 1, Y. Will, J.A. Dykens, Eds., Chapter 19, Toward mitochondrial medicine: Challenges in rodent modeling of human mitochondrial dysfunction
  2018 Dunn DA, Irwin MH, Moos WH, Steliou K, Pinkert CA
• Peptides 2020: A Clear Therapeutic Vision.
  Protein and peptide letters 2018 Angell Y, Holford M, Moos WH
• What we look for: 5 pitch essentials for life science entrepreneurs
  What we look for: 5 pitch essentials for life science entrepreneurs 2018 Bidegainberry J, Brockstedt D, DiLaura P, Drakas R, Hui M, Kiron R, Kodukula K, Lively S, Lutz R, Moos W, Smith I, Spellmeyer D, Tabrizi M, Tsang B, Wei A, Wild R, Xu Y, Yang C
• Epigenetic Treatment of Neurodegenerative Ophthalmic Disorders: An Eye Toward the Future.
  BioResearch open access 2017 Moos WH, Faller DV, Glavas IP, Harpp DN, Irwin MH, Kanara I, Pinkert CA, Powers WR, Steliou K, Vavvas DG, Kodukula K
• Gut Microbiota and Salivary Diagnostics: The Mouth Is Salivating to Tell Us Something.
  BioResearch open access 2017 Kodukula K, Faller DV, Harpp DN, Kanara I, Pernokas J, Pernokas M, Powers WR, Soukos NS, Steliou K, Moos WH
• Managing the Drug Discovery Process
  Managing the Drug Discovery Process 2016 Miller SM, Moos WH, Munk BH, Munk SA
• Epigenetic Treatment of Persistent Viral Infections.
  Drug development research 2016 Moos WH, Pinkert CA, Irwin MH, Faller DV, Kodukula K, Glavas IP, Steliou K
• Innovative Approaches in Drug Discovery: Ethnopharmacology, Systems Biology and Holistic Targeting, B. Patwardhan, R. Chaguturu, Eds
  Foreword: Natural Products Are Dead – Long Live Natural Products! 2016 Kodukula K, Moos WH
• Epigenetic Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders: Alzheimer and Parkinson Diseases.
  Drug development research 2016 Irwin MH, Moos WH, Faller DV, Steliou K, Pinkert CA
• Epigenetic Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Autism and Schizophrenia.
  Drug development research 2016 Moos WH, Maneta E, Pinkert CA, Irwin MH, Hoffman ME, Faller DV, Steliou K
• Bioprotective carnitinoids: lipoic acid, butyrate, and mitochondria-targeting to treat radiation injury: mitochondrial drugs come of age.
  Drug development research 2015 Steliou K, Faller DV, Pinkert CA, Irwin MH, Moos WH
• A tribute to David Triggle.
  Biochemical pharmacology 2015 Moos WH
• Radiation drugs – Still a hot topic
  Drug Dev Res 2013 Moos WH, Shankar GN
• Biomarkers – An essential tie that binds the future of drugs and diagnostics
  Drug Dev Res 2013 Perrone JB, Kodukula K, Moos WH
• Radiation drugs – a hot topic
  Drug Dev Res 2012 Moos WH, Shankar GN
• Pairing of Polarities. The Life and Art of Sonya Rapoport. Heyday Press, Berkeley, CA, T. Cohn, Ed., On the (r)evolution of art and science and one Sonya Rapoport
  2012 Moos WH, Miller SM, Moos SR
• Evaluation of the pKa values and ionization sequence of bumetanide using 1H and 13C NMR and UV spectroscopy
  Drug Dev Res 2011 Song B, Galande AK, Kodukula K, Moos WH, Miller SM
• Nonprofit pharma: solutions to what ails the industry.
  Current medicinal chemistry 2011 Moos WH, Kodukula K
• Nonprofits and the valley of death in drug discovery
  Nonprofits and the valley of death in drug discovery 2010 Moos W
• Bright lights, clearly visible in the healthcare R&D tunnel, could burn out for lack of funds
  Drug Dev Res 2009 Moos WH, Rurka JE, Miller SM
• Nonprofit organizations and pharmaceutical research and development
  Drug Dev Res 2009 Moos WH, Mirsalis JC
• Review of the effects of 17alpha-estradiol in humans: A less feminizing estrogen with neuroprotective potential
  Drug Dev Res 2009 Moos WH, Dykens JA, Nohynek D, Rubinchik E, Howell N
• 17alpha-estradiol: A less-feminizing estrogen
  Drug Dev Res 2008 Moos WH, Dykens JA, Howell N
• High-Throughput Lead Optimization in Drug Discovery, T. Kshirsagar, Ed., Chapter 6, Rapid lead identification of inhibitors of adenine nucleotide translocase: A case study of applying combinatorial chemistry techniques in drug discovery
  2008 Pei Y, Moos WH, Ghosh S
• Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry II, Taylor JB, Triggle DJ, Eds., Vol. 2, Chapters 2.01-2.27, Strategy and Drug Research
  2007 Moos WH
• Nanobiotechnology: It’s a small world after all
  Drug Dev Res 2006 Moos WH, Barry S
• Alzheimer’s disease, estrogens, and clinical trials: A case study in drug development for complex disorders
  Drug Dev Res 2005 Howell N, Dykens J, Moos WH
• Estrogens and neuroprotection: Desperate housewives, lost, and survivor
  Drug Dev Res 2005 Howell N, Dykens J, Moos WH
• Ethical issues in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries
  Drug Dev Res 2005 Aronson D, Best SG, Werner MJ, Moos WH
• Design and combinatorial synthesis of N-acyl iminodiacetic acids as bongkrekic acid analogues for the inhibition of adenine nucleotide translocase
  Synthesis 2003 Pei Y, Carroll AK, Anderson CM, Moos WH, Ghosh SS
• The biotechnology industry in a period of opportunity and uncertainty
  Drug Dev Res 2002 Moos WH, Feldbaum CB
• Cell death as a life force
  Drug Dev Res 2001 Tomaselli KJ, Moos WH
• Combinatorial discovery process yields antimicrobial peptoids.
  Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry 1999 Ng S, Goodson B, Ehrhardt A, Moos WH, Siani M, Winter J
• Characterization of novel antimicrobial peptoids.
  Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 1999 Goodson B, Ehrhardt A, Ng S, Nuss J, Johnson K, Giedlin M, Yamamoto R, Moos WH, Krebber A, Ladner M, Giacona MB, Vitt C, Winter J
• From genes to drugs: Better, faster, cheaper
  Drug Dev Res 1998 Kennedy GC, Moos WH
• Design and synthesis of m1-selective muscarinic agonists: (R)-(-)-(Z)-1-Azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-3-one, O-(3-(3'-methoxyphenyl)-2-propynyl)oxime maleate (CI-1017), a functionally m1-selective muscarinic agonist.
  Journal of medicinal chemistry 1998 Tecle H, Barrett SD, Lauffer DJ, Augelli-Szafran C, Brann MR, Callahan MJ, Caprathe BW, Davis RE, Doyle PD, Eubanks D, Lipiniski W, Mirzadegan T, Moos WH, Moreland DW, Nelson CB, Pavia MR, Raby C, …
• Pharmacologic characterization of CHIR 2279, an N-substituted glycine peptoid with high-affinity binding for alpha 1-adrenoceptors.
  The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics 1996 Gibbons JA, Hancock AA, Vitt CR, Knepper S, Buckner SA, Brune ME, Milicic I, Kerwin JF, Richter LS, Taylor EW, Spear KL, Zuckermann RN, Spellmeyer DC, Braeckman RA, Moos WH
• Measuring diversity: experimental design of combinatorial libraries for drug discovery.
  Journal of medicinal chemistry 1995 Martin EJ, Blaney JM, Siani MA, Spellmeyer DC, Wong AK, Moos WH
• Z-(±)-1-azabicyclo [2.2. 1] heptan-3-one, O-(3-aryl-2-propynyl) oximes as potential m1-subtype selective muscarinic agonists
  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1995 Tecle H, Jaen JC, Augelli-Szafran C, Barrett SD, Caprathe BW, Lauffer DJ, Mirzadegan T, Moos WH, Moreland DW, Pavia MR, Schwarz RD, Thomas AJ, Davis RE
• Comparison of the proteolytic susceptibilities of homologous L‐amino acid, D‐amino acid, and N‐substituted glycine peptide and peptoid oligomers
  Drug Dev Res 1995 Miller SM, Simon RJ, Ng S, Zuckermann RN, Kerr JM, Moos WH
• Diagnosing the decline of major pharmaceutical research laboratories: A prescription for drug companies
  Drug Dev Res 1995 Weisbach JA, Moos WH
• Molecular diversity comes of age!
  Mol Diversity 1995 Geysen HM, Houghten RA, Kauffman S, Lebl M, Moos WH, Pavia MR, Szostak JW
• Proteolytic studies of homologous peptide and N-substituted glycine peptoid oligomers
  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1994 Miller SM, Simon RJ, Ng S, Zuckermann RN, Kerr JM, Moos WH
• Post-modification of peptoid side chains:[3+ 2] cycloaddition of nitrile oxides with alkenes and alkynes on the solid-phase
  Tetrahedron Lett 1994 Pei Y, Moos WH
• Discovery of nanomolar ligands for 7-transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptors from a diverse N-(substituted) glycine peptoid library
  J Med Chem 1994 Zuckermann RN, Martin EJ, Spellmeyer DC, Stauber GB, Shoemaker KR, Kerr JM, Figliozzi GM, Goff DA, Siani MA, Simon RJ, Banville SC, Brown EG, Wang L, Richter LS, Moos WH
• Recent advances in the generation of chemical diversity libraries
  Drug Dev Res 1994 Desai MC, Zuckermann RN, Moos WH
• Using peptoid libraries [oligo N-substituted glycines] for drug discovery
  Techniques in Protein Chemistry 1994 Simon RJ, Martin EJ, Miller SM, Zuckermann RN, Blaney JM, Moos WH
• Pharmaceutical applications of biotechnology: promise and reality.
  Current opinion in biotechnology 1993 Moos WH, DiRita VJ, Oxender DL
• Recent Advances in the Generation of Molecular Diversity
  Annu Rep Med Chem 1993 Moos WH, Green GD, Pavia MF
• The generation of molecular diversity
  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1993 Pavia MR, Sawyer TK, Moos WH
• Synthesis and SAR of bulky 1-azabicyclo[2.2.1]-3-one oximes as muscarinic receptor subtype selective agonists.
  Life sciences 1993 Tecle H, Lauffer DJ, Mirzadegan T, Moos WH, Moreland DW, Pavia MR, Schwarz RD, Davis RE
• Therapeutic intervention in dementia.
  Critical reviews in neurobiology 1993 Davis RE, Emmerling MR, Jaen JC, Moos WH, Spiegel K
• Cholinergic agents: effect of methyl substitution in a series of arecoline derivatives on binding to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.
  Journal of pharmaceutical sciences 1992 Moos WH, Bergmeier SC, Coughenour LL, Davis RE, Hershenson FM, Kester JA, McKee JS, Marriott JG, Schwarz RD, Tecle H
• A rationale for the design and synthesis of m1 selective muscarinic agonists
  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1992 Tecle H, Mirzadegan T, Moos WH, Moreland DW, Pavia MR, Schwarz RD, Davis RE
• Acetylcholine releasing agents as cognition activators. Chemistry and pharmacology of a series of ureas
  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1992 Thomas AJ, Kester JA, Butler DE, Hershenson FM, Davis RE, Marriott JG, Schwarz RD, Spencer CJ, Symons JP, Moos WH
• Cholinergic agents: aldehyde, ketone, and oxime analogues of the muscarinic agonist UH5
  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1992 Sanders KB, Thomas AJ, Pavia MR, Davis RE, Coughenour LL, Myers SL, Fisher S, Moos WH
• Cholinomimetics and Alzheimer's disease
  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1992 Jaen J, Moos WH, Johnson G
• Efficient method for the preparation of peptoids [oligo (N-substituted glycines)] by submonomer solid-phase synthesis
  J Am Chem Soc 1992 Zuckermann RN, Kerr JM, Kent SBH, Moos WH
• A silica gel plate-based qualitative assay for acetylcholinesterase activity: a mass method to screen for potential inhibitors.
  Analytical biochemistry 1991 Kiely JS, Moos WH, Pavia MR, Schwarz RD, Woodard GL
• Next generation tacrine.
  Neurobiology of aging 1991 Schwarz RD, Davis RE, Gracon S, Hoover T, Moos WH, Pavia MR
• Cholinergic agents: 2-oxazolidinone analogues of the acetylcholine-receptor muscarinic agonist pilocarpine
  Bioorg Med Chem Lett 1991 Hobbs SH, Johnson SJ, Kesten SR, Pavia MR, Davis RE, Schwarz RD, Coughenour LL, Myers SL, Dudley DT, Moos WH
• Cholinergic agents: Deficits in rat hippocampal choline acetyltransferase activity and spatial working memory induced by intracerebroventricular administration of stoichiometrically prepared 1-ethyl-1-(2-hydroxyethyl) aziridinium ion (AF64A)
  Drug Dev Res 1991 Moos WH, Davis RE, Kinsora JJ, Schwarz RD, Smith ME, Spencer CJ
• Conformation of three tetrahydropyridinyl oxime cognition activators
  J Crystallographic Spectroscopic Res 1991 Bandoli G, Dolmella A, Moos WH, Nicolini M, Ongaro A
• Benzo-fused bicyclic imides
  J Org Chem 1990 Pavia MR, Moos WH, Hershenson FM
• Adenosine Receptor Agonists. X-Ray Crystal Structure of NECA (1-(6-Amino-9 H-Purin-9-yl)-1-Deoxy-N-Ethyl-β-D-Ribofuranuronamide)
  Nucleosides Nucleotides 1989 Moos WH, Hamilton HW, Ortwine DF, Taylor MD, McPhail AT
• Evaluation in rats of the somnogenic, pyrogenic, and central nervous system depressant effects of muramyl dipeptide.
  Psychopharmacology 1989 Meltzer LT, Serpa KA, Moos WH
• Cognition activators.
  Medicinal research reviews 1988 Moos WH, Davis RE, Schwarz RD, Gamzu ER
• Cardiotonic agents. 7. Inhibition of separated forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from guinea pig cardiac muscle by 4,5-dihydro-6-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]-3(2H)-pyridazinones and related compounds. Structure-activity relationships and correlation with in vivo positive inotropic activity.
  Journal of medicinal chemistry 1987 Sircar I, Weishaar RE, Kobylarz D, Moos WH, Bristol JA
• Cardiotonic agents. 8. Selective inhibitors of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate phosphodiesterase III. Elaboration of a five-point model for positive inotropic activity.
  Journal of medicinal chemistry 1987 Moos WH, Humblet CC, Sircar I, Rithner C, Weishaar RE, Bristol JA, McPhail AT
• N6-(2,2-diphenylethyl)adenosine, a novel adenosine receptor agonist with antipsychotic-like activity.
  Journal of medicinal chemistry 1987 Bridges AJ, Moos WH, Szotek DL, Trivedi BK, Bristol JA, Heffner TG, Bruns RF, Downs DA
• Drug development for senile cognitive decline.
  Journal of medicinal chemistry 1986 Hershenson FM, Moos WH
• Studies on the preparation, isolation, and reactions of adenosine Schiff bases
  Nucleosides Nucleotides 1986 Badger EW, Szotek DS, Moos WH
• Ribose-modified adenosine analogues as adenosine receptor agonists.
  Journal of medicinal chemistry 1986 Taylor MD, Moos WH, Hamilton HW, Szotek DS, Patt WC, Badger EW, Bristol JA, Bruns RF, Heffner TG, Mertz TE
• The reaction of pyridazinones with nucleophiles. An unusual reaction with cyanide
  J Heterocyclic Chem 1986 Badger EW, Moos WH
• N6-cycloalkyladenosines. Potent, A1-selective adenosine agonists.
  Journal of medicinal chemistry 1985 Moos WH, Szotek DS, Bruns RF
• Cardiotonic agents. 1. 4,5-Dihydro-6-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl]-3 (2H)-pyridazinones: novel positive inotropic agents for the treatment of congestive heart failure.
  Journal of medicinal chemistry 1984 Bristol JA, Sircar I, Moos WH, Evans DB, Weishaar RE
• Codeine analogs. Synthesis of 4a-aryldecahydroisoquinolines containing nitrogen ring functionality and of octahydro-1H-indeno [1, 2, 3-ef] isoquinolines. A total synthesis of codeine
  J Org Chem 1983 Moos WH, Gless RD, Rapoport H
• Codeine analogs. Synthesis of 4a-(2, 3-dimethoxyphenyl) decahydroisoquinolines and octahydro-1H-[1] benzopyrano [4, 3, 2-e, f] isoquinolines
  J Org Chem 1982 Moos WH, Gless RD, Rapoport H
• Codeine analogs. Synthesis of spiro [benzofuran-3 (2H) 4'-piperidines] and octahydro-1H-benzofuro [3, 2-e] isoquinolines
  J Org Chem 1981 Moos WH, Gless RD, Rapoport H