A scientific operator who turns discovery questions into reliable evidence.
Anuja Modi is a biochemist with deep experience in early drug discovery, spanning assay development, high-throughput screening, target engagement, and hit-to-lead support. Her work bridges Biology, Chemistry, DMPK, automation, and external partners so complex programs move from concept to evidence faster.
Across industry and academic settings, she has built fit-for-purpose screening cascades, advanced automation strategies, interpreted SAR-relevant data, and translated complex technical findings into clear recommendations for multidisciplinary teams.
What she brings to any discovery team.
Assay Strategy
Designs mechanistically informative biochemical and cell-based assays that answer the right discovery question at the right program stage.
Screening & Hit-to-Lead
Builds primary, orthogonal, selectivity, and functional workflows that support differentiated modality assessment and SAR decisions.
Automation & Throughput
Introduces plate-based and liquid-handling systems that reduce reagent costs, improve reproducibility, and scale discovery execution.
Cross-Functional Delivery
Acts as a technical bridge across Biology, Chemistry, DMPK, Informatics, and CRO partners to keep the design-make-test cycle moving.
Industry and academic discovery, across a decade.
- Circle Pharma Inc. Oct 2024 - Jan 2026
Scientist II, Biology
South San Francisco, California
Led assay development and screening workflow design for selective macrocycle discovery against conserved cell-cycle targets in oncology collaborations.
- Built a suite of biochemical assays central to preclinical discovery efforts for a key oncology partnership.
- Established 384-well automated screening workflows and partnered with informatics to cut data-processing time by 75%.
- Developed functional assays to test mechanism-of-action hypotheses during hit-to-lead studies.
- Created a novel target-occupancy method that extended from preclinical discovery into fresh frozen tumor-sample applications.
- Drove adoption of new liquid-handling platforms through procurement, training, and technical enablement.
- Denali Therapeutics Inc. Jun 2021 - Feb 2024
Scientist, Discovery Pharmacology
South San Francisco, California
Supported multiple neurodegeneration discovery programs with assay design, translational experimentation, automation, and CRO execution.
- Designed and executed HTS and hit-to-lead assays spanning target engagement, pathway activation, and mammalian primary-cell studies.
- Advanced differentiated modalities including transport-vehicle conjugates for antibody and enzyme platforms toward in vivo candidacy.
- Led experiments on ex vivo stability of oligonucleotide-antibody conjugates to inform platform architecture choices.
- Improved data-analysis workflows with informatics collaborators and contributed to ELN functionality and compliance upgrades.
- Managed CRO assay transfers, vendor coordination, and mentorship of junior scientists.
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Mar 2017 - Apr 2021
Research Scientist / Senior Research Associate
Dallas, Texas
Built and advanced a discovery program focused on inhibitors of tau-HSPG binding, from screening concept through lead optimization.
- Established a Tau Consortium-funded small-molecule screening project in collaboration with the institutional HTS core.
- Led hit-to-lead optimization and coordinated SAR work with medicinal chemistry collaborators.
- Standardized assays, reagent production methods, and project documentation across multiple phases of the program.
- Expanded lab infrastructure toward high-throughput capability through equipment acquisition, scheduling systems, and technical training.
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Radiation Oncology Oct 2014 - Mar 2017
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Dallas, Texas
Designed discovery assays and screening strategies for oncology kinase targets while contributing to broader scientific leadership and mentorship.
- Designed and executed HTS to identify small-molecule inhibitors of SRMS kinase and advanced validated hits into cellular follow-up.
- Developed ligand-binding and covalent-kinetics assay methods for kinase inhibitor discovery.
- Served as co-chair of the postdoctoral career development committee, organizing professional development programs for researchers.
What distinguishes the work.
- 01
Turned automation into a discovery multiplier
From 384-well workflows to liquid-handling platform adoption, Anuja has repeatedly used automation to make discovery teams faster, leaner, and more reproducible.
- 02
Built assays that answer mechanism, not just activity
Her strongest programs pair functional, biochemical, and target-engagement methods so screening outputs become strategic decision tools rather than isolated readouts.
- 03
Bridged biology, chemistry, and operations
A recurring differentiator is her ability to translate between disciplines, connect CRO execution with internal priorities, and keep the design-make-test cycle aligned.
Deep scientific training.
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Ph.D. Chemistry (Biochemistry)
University of South Carolina
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M.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences (Medicinal Chemistry)
Virginia Commonwealth University
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B.S. Pharmacy
University of Mumbai
Patents and publications.
Patents
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Monovalent anti-TREM2 binding molecules and methods of use thereof
Dennis, Mark S. et al., including Modi, Anuja R. WO/2023/192288 (2023).
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Methods to Discover Tau Protein Stabilizers
Marc I. Diamond and Anuja R. Modi. USP application, pending (2020).
Selected Publications
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A TREM2-activating antibody with a blood-brain barrier transport vehicle enhances microglial metabolism in Alzheimer's disease models
Nature Neuroscience, 2023.
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A synthetic heparinoid blocks tau aggregate cell uptake and amplification
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2020.
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Spectroscopic evidence supporting neutral thiol ligation to ferrous heme iron
Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 2018.
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Oxidizing intermediates in P450 catalysis: a case for multiple oxidants in cytochrome P450 enzyme mechanisms
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2015.
Open to conversations about scientific leadership, discovery execution, and next-stage biochemistry roles.