Morteza M. Vaghefi, Ph.D., received his graduate training at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University in Utah, obtaining an M.S. degree (1980) in biochemistry and a Ph.D. (1985) in organic and medicinal chemistry under the guidance of Professor Ronald Robins. Dr. Vaghefi is an inventor of eight patents and has authored over numerous scientific publications. He is currently serving as the reviewer for the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry and Nucleosides, Nucleotides and Nucleic Acid.
From 1985 to 1989, Dr. Vaghefi served as head of the Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry at ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc., developing novel nucleoside and nucleotide analogs for various therapeutic indications. In 1989, he accepted a position at Genta Inc. in San Diego, California, serving as the head of oligonucleotides and nucleotide chemistry. In 1996, he co-founded TriLink Biotechnologies Inc. in San Diego. From 1996 to 2004, Dr. Vaghefi served as co-founder, senior vice president and chief chemical officer of TriLink Biotechnologies Inc.
In 2005, he founded ChemCyte, Inc. in San Diego. ChemCyte specializes in the modification of nucleoside and nucleotides. In addition, the company provides various custom products and research services including synthesis of nucleotide analogs, conjugation, and labeling and assay development.