Carlos Valdez

Dr. Carlos Valdez, a synthetic chemist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL’s) Forensic Science Center, works at the forefront of chemical threat agent science. By developing medical countermeasures and characterizing new threats, his work is pivotal in strengthening national security through advanced scientific research and technology.

Originally from Peru, Valdez moved to the United States in 1991. He earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Florida International University in 2000 and his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2006. After working at the Scripps Research Institute as a postdoctoral scholar, Valdez joined LLNL in 2009 and began working at the Forensic Science Center in 2011.

Valdez’s primary research involves discovering antidotes, known as reactivators, that can cross the blood-brain barrier to protect the brain from nerve agent exposure. His team has developed the first antidote capable of protecting the entire nervous system. This groundbreaking discovery was made possible through the collaborative efforts of various scientific disciplines at LLNL, including high-performance computing, organic synthesis, and biochemistry. The discovery of LLNL-2, a potent antidote for nerve agents, was the result of an integrative, feedback-based process involving computational design, organic synthesis, and biochemical testing. The above picture behind Valdez, seated, depicts LLNL-2 crossing the blood brain barrier to protect the central nervous system from the effects of nerve agents. 

Over 110 candidates were evaluated before LLNL-2 was identified, demonstrating decent reactivation power for sarin-inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and exceptional permeability across blood-brain barrier models. To ensure this innovative research was shared with the scientific community, Valdez has served as the lead author or co-author on 68 research publications and more than 30 LLNL technical reports and holds 23 patents.

Valdez was drawn to LLNL’s highly collaborative environment, which he first experienced during summer internships in 2001 and 2003. He appreciates the Laboratory's culture of strong interdisciplinary collaboration, which has been crucial in his research. As he puts it, “It is this availability of great scientific talent in all these fields and their collaborative effort that made the discovery of LLNL-02 possible, something that is difficult to do in other settings such as academia or industry.” Valdez also credits his early mentors, Dr. Roger Aines and Dr. Joseph Satcher, for their guidance in both scientific and logistical aspects of project management.

Promoted in June 2024 to Associate Program Leader for Research and Development in the Forensic Science Center, Valdez is responsible for the execution of non-intelligence sponsor efforts to include the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State. Valdez emphasizes the need for ongoing research in medical countermeasures against nerve agents, especially as new threats like the Novichoks, a family of nerve agents known for their enormous toxicity, have become attractive tools for terrorists. Understanding the interaction between these agents and their biological targets is essential for developing more effective antidotes.

While Valdez jokes that having more hours in the day would be the easiest way to get everything done, he acknowledges that funding is a major catalyst for discovery. His work on LLNL-2 has been supported by a strong collaboration with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) for seven years. With the necessary resources and facilities, Valdez and his team continue to push the boundaries of chemical threat agent science, contributing significantly to national security.

Valdez’s work at LLNL exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and the relentless pursuit of scientific discovery. His contributions to chemical threat agent science not only advance the field but also play a crucial role in protecting national security and public health and safety.