Paul Andrew Johnston

Paul Andrew Johnston is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He holds a B.Sc. (Honors) and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of East Anglia, followed by postdoctoral research at UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. With over 30 years of drug discovery experience across academia and industry, his expertise spans high content imaging, HTS/HCS assay development, and 3D tumor modeling. He founded the University of Pittsburgh Molecular Library Screening Center (PMLSC), leading 21 HTS campaigns and pioneering the ALMANAC database for cancer drug combinations. His current research focuses on prostate cancer, melanoma, head/neck cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma drug discovery through innovative screening approaches.

Education:

• B.Sc. with Honors (2.1), Biochemistry, University of East Anglia (1978)
• Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of East Anglia (1983)

Research Focus: Integrating advanced imaging technologies with high-throughput screening to identify synergistic drug combinations and novel therapeutics. Specializes in patient-derived 3D tumor models, androgen receptor inhibition in prostate cancer, and overcoming drug resistance mechanisms. Active in developing standardized HTS protocols for precision medicine applications.

Key Contributions: Developed NCI-60 cell line combination screening methodologies, pioneered multicellular tumor spheroid analysis frameworks, and established organoid models for personalized cancer therapy evaluation. Served as past president of the Society for Biomolecular Imaging and Informatics (SBI2).

Advising & Grants: Mentors Pharm.D. and Ph.D. students in drug discovery. Leads collaborative projects with academic and industry partners, including work on HDAC8 inhibitors for kidney injury and Src kinase modulators. Actively participates in grant initiatives related to cancer drug discovery and assay development.

Labs & Facilities: Director of chemical biology laboratories within the School of Pharmacy's Pharmaceutical Sciences department. Oversees the PMLSC's HTS/HCS facilities and maintains close ties with the University of Pittsburgh Liver Research Center for collaborative oncology studies.