Paul W. Buehler

Paul W. Buehler, PharmD, PhD is a Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine with primary appointments in Pediatrics and secondary appointments in Pathology. He is affiliated with the Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Buehler is a pharmacologist and toxicologist whose work spans academic research, regulatory science, and therapeutic development in hemolysis and hemoglobin toxicity.

Dr. Buehler received his Pharm.D. from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1995 and his Ph.D. in Biopharmaceutical Sciences from the same institution in 2002. His dual doctoral training provides a strong foundation for his interdisciplinary research bridging pharmacology, toxicology, and hematology.

His research program focuses on understanding red blood cell hemolysis and the downstream effects of extracellular hemoglobin, heme, and iron toxicity. His work encompasses genetic/acquired anemias and toxin/mechanical device-induced hemolysis, with significant contributions to understanding genomic and proteomic changes associated with hemolytic pathologies. Notably, his collaborative work with the FDA led to the recall of Opana ER due to its association with intravenous abuse and subsequent cases of thrombotic microangiopathy and hemolytic uremic syndrome. His laboratory investigates therapeutic approaches using plasma and recombinant constructs of haptoglobin, hemopexin, and transferrin to mitigate hemolysis-induced pathobiology. Additionally, he studies novel red blood cell processing techniques and their impact on post-transfusion recovery, oxygen delivery, and tissue metabolic response.

Dr. Buehler has an extensive background in biopharmaceutical product development with over fifteen years of regulatory experience at the FDA. He has evaluated and guided over 200 pre-clinical product development applications across various stages and has been involved in the approval of more than ten licensed products for conditions including hereditary angioedema, hemophilia, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. His recent publications demonstrate consistent contributions to understanding hemolysis, hemoglobin toxicity, and therapeutic interventions, with particular emphasis on compartmentalization of cell-free hemoglobin toxicity and targeted biologic therapies.