Episode 38: Pivoting to Meet Protein Purification Needs with TriAltus

A University of Alabama Birmingham researcher was frustrated with inconsistent solutions and processes for purifying unique proteins and set out to develop a new approach for high throughput protein purification. Thus was the seed idea for TriAltus Bioscience, which aims to bring protein purification technology from the research bench to the production environment. The Chain spoke with Bob Shufflebarger, CEO of TriAltus to give the background story and insights into future developments. TriAltus lab manager Naomi Logsdon joined the conversation to share her scientific background and passion for discovery, plus explain the novel technology used in TriAltus purification.

Naomi Logsdon, Lab Manager, TriAltus Bioscience
Naomi Logsdon is a molecular biologist and laboratory manager with over 30 years of experience and an outstanding record of scientific research in both academic and industrial settings.  She is a co-author on more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and holds two gene patents. Logsdon graduated from Rice University cum laude with a B.A. in Biology.  She began her research as an undergraduate assistant and was co-author on four research publications studying oxygen radical toxicity.  Cell biology and cancer were the focus at subsequent positions at Baylor College of Medicine, DuPont Merck Pharmaceuticals, and the University of Delaware.  Protein expression and purification became an area of interest at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, where she evaluated several expression systems for use in high-throughput screening.  She also cloned two novel potassium channels as potential drug targets.  She later joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) at the Center for Biological Sciences and Engineering, where her protein expression and purification skills were applied to crystallographic studies of interleukins.  She held managerial and technical positions in several other labs at UAB prior to joining TriAltus in 2019. 

Bob Shufflebarger, CEO, TriAltus Bioscience
Bob Shufflebarger is a life sciences industry veteran. He has more than 25 years’ experience in various facets of life science and technology businesses, from his earliest years working at the scientific bench to experience directing operations, finance, and marketing; developing turnaround strategies, and initiating and completing licensing deals. Shufflebarger founded TriAltus Bioscience in 2017 to commercialize novel protein purification technology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Prior to TriAltus, Shufflebarger worked at Atherotech Diagnostics for 16 years, where he held positions within the company including Finance Director, Vice President of Operations, and Chief Operating Officer. As COO he initiated a business pivot that led to revenue turnaround and substantial growth, culminating in sale to a Private Equity firm and eventual growth to more than $100M in annual revenue.

Shufflebarger earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Birmingham-Southern College and an MBA from Duke University. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Birmingham Venture Club for 10 years, and served Board President in 2015 and 2016. He chaired the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk in 2015 and is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Birmingham.