Dr Shlaes, author of Antibiotics, The Perfect Storm (Springer) and The Drug Makers (Lulu), has had a thirty-year career in anti-infectives spanning academia and industry with a long-standing scientific interest in antimicrobial resistance.

He trained in infectious diseases at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He then taught, maintained an active research program, cared for patients and eventually became Professor of Medicine there. In 1996, Dr Shlaes left academia to become Vice President for Infectious Diseases at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals where he was an important leader in the development of tigecycline. In 1998, he was the cover feature in the April issue of Business Week dedicated to antibiotics research. He also was a member of the Forum for Emerging Infections of the National Academy of Sciences for seven years. In 2002, Dr. Shlaes became Executive Vice President, Research and Development for Idenix, Pharmaceuticals, a company located in Cambridge, MA, focused on the discovery and development of antivirals. In 2005, he established a consulting company. During his consulting years, he contributed in significant ways to the development of avibactam and the discovery and development of lefamulin. During his working career, he lived in Paris, France for several years.

Dr Shlaes has since retired from Anti-infectives Consulting. He remains an Editor for Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, writes a blog – Antibiotics the Perfect Storm, remains active in antibiotic policy areas and spends a good deal of time in France.