Bioanalysis Rising Star Award finalist: Tomislav Caval
Nominated by: Klaus Lindpaintner, CSO/CMO of InterVenn Biosciences (CA, USA)
Supporting comments:
“As CSO/CMO of InterVenn, a company focused on exploiting plasma glycopeptidomics as a new source for biomarkers, I recruited Tomislav as the first scientist to pursue foundational research, in addition to the applied research we were conducting at the company. Tomislav proved himself to be a highly creative, innovative, unorthodox, at times provocative outside-the-box thinker who is not afraid of taking risks and pushing the envelope, but who at the same time remains pragmatic and grounded in reality, resulting in an impressive track record of productivity – inventions as well as publications. Tomislav stays keenly abreast of the latest developments in the field, always being first to bring new research to the team’s attention. His ability to integrate this knowledge into his work was truly remarkable. Tomislav is not only technically proficient but also a great team player. He has a knack for explaining complex concepts in a way that is easy for anyone to understand, which fostered a collaborative and productive environment in the lab.
Tomislav is a dedicated glycobiologist with a bright future. I am confident that he will continue to make significant contributions to the field and will become a recognized leader in the field.”
Describe the main highlights of your bioanalytical work
My bioanalytical work has primarily focused on the development and application of native mass spectrometry (MS) techniques for the analysis of glycosylated biotherapeutics and serum glycoproteins. I have established workflows that include acquiring native MS spectra, deconvoluting them for easier identification of glycosylation patterns and comparing samples for quality control purposes. A significant part of my work has been bridging the gap between glycobiology and analytical sciences. This has led to a more informed interpretation of mass spectra of glycosylated biologics, a task that is typically challenging due to glycan mass coincidences.
In addition to native MS, I have developed and optimized workflows for the analysis of intact glycopeptides. This has been instrumental in guiding the development of improved lysosomal replacement enzymes. More recently, I have applied these workflows and developed new approaches for mapping the glycosylation of primary cancer tissues, contributing to the advancement of liquid biopsy development at InterVenn Biosciences. Parallel to my work in glycosylation, I have been involved in developing better workflows for monoclonal antibody (mAb) analysis, leading to the identification and characterization of novel proteases, Cathepsin L and D.
