Alisa Serio is Executive Director of Microbiology and Nonclinical Development at Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and has previously held positions in microbiology at Achaogen, Inc. She has more than 25 years of experience in research microbiology and more than 14 years of experience in small molecule antibacterial research and development (R&D).
She has lead R&D of antibacterials with a specific focus on combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), from discovery to lead selection to antibacterial clinical trials (microbiology) to FDA approval to commercial launch. Alisa’s expertise covers a vast array of nonclinical studies, such as the design and conduct of cornerstone in vitro studies, e.g. minimum inhibitory concentration, checkerboard, resistance development, time-kill etc., and in vivo studies in rodents, rabbits and non-human primates, e.g. efficacy, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, toxicology etc.
Alisa has in depth knowledge on antimicrobial susceptibility testing device development (manual and automated), breakpoint setting (FDA, EUCAST, CLSI), Animal Rule program requirements (biothreat) and more. In addition, Alisa has authored successful technical proposals and subsequently lead research and development activities under several United States government partnerships, including Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
She received her PhD in molecular biology and microbiology from Tufts University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular and cell biology at University of California, Berkeley, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health and American Heart Association. Alisa is a long-standing member of the American Society of Microbiology, Infectious Disease Society of America, and the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.