VERMALI RODRIGUEZ, PH.D.

ADDRESS: *** ** **** ****, ***********, FL

• PH. 787-***-****

• EMAIL: act8py@r.postjobfree.com

QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE

Accomplished scientist with expertise in the physiology and pharmacology fields along with 9+ years of multidisciplinary working experience in the areas of biotechnology industry, basic science research and clinical study coordination.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Renin Angiotensin System (RAS)

Neuroscience & Cardiology

Clinical Research

Streamlining Operations

Training and Development

GCPs, HIPAA & cGMPs

Team Collaboration

Problem Resolution

Bilingual: English & Spanish

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, GAINESVILLE, FL, USA

Clinical Study Coordinator, Department of Cardiology (2014 – present)

Manage phase I and II clinical studies in the therapeutic areas of neurogenic hypertension (HTN) and psychiatric disorders

- Lead of a translational study that links HTN onset to gut microbiome changes, Th17 cell production and neuroinflammation.

o Significantly reduced overall study cost and timeline (>30%) by revising clinical study designs and aligning study outcomes between the scientific and clinical teams.

o Improved patient enrollment activities by adding recruitment centers and incorporating the use of database searches.

o Built working relationships with leading physicians in the field to develop data safety monitoring committees and discuss patient medical/pharmacological needs throughout the study.

o Coordinated clinical and laboratory personnel to facilitate gathering, processing and storage of clinical samples.

- Initiated a cross-departmental project that investigates brain function in response to digestive metabolites.

- Conducted feasibility analyses for collaborations analyzing RAS effects on bone marrow transplants and pulmonary HTN.

- Generated informed consent forms (ICFs), case-report, grant proposals and institutional review board (IRB) protocols.

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Physiology (2009 – 2014)

Investigated the role of (pro)renin receptor (PRR) activation in the brain during neurogenic HTN

- Successfully characterized the novel role of brain PRR activation in the regulation of cardiovascular and autonomic function.

- Demonstrated the pivotal role of astrocyte over-activation to neuroinflammation and HTN development.

- Co-designed a translational project that received $168k worth of funding from the NIH for a two-year period.

- Supervised and trained young investigators (4) in developing and managing research projects.

AMGEN MANUFACTURING LIMITED, JUNCOS, PR

Associate Scientist, Department of Process Development (2005 – 2009)

Provided essential technical support for commercial manufacturing operations of Neupogen and Neulasta

- Optimized bench scale protein purification protocols to facilitate tech transfer, pilot and manufacturing scale studies.

- Collaborated with external vendors and engineers in the design and implementation of process optimization projects, resulting in improved protein stability, yield increase, column packing, and resin re-use cycles.

- Ensured timely resolution of Non-conformance investigations and CAPA implementations by working in cross-functional teams (e.g., Quality, Validation, Automation and Supply Chain).

- Directed departmental safety program (>80 staff), maintaining 100% training compliance and no incidents in two-year while managing internal audits and training programs to ensure adherence to EH&S guidelines.

- Generated quarterly process summary reports to inform upper management of areas improvement in product lifecycle management; analyzed process monitoring trends, unit operation performance and lot production deviations.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Doctor of Philosophy in Physiology and Pharmacology, 2014 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, GAINESVILLE, FL, USA

Topic: The role of prorenin-induced astrocyte activation during neurogenic hypertension (HTN)

Advisor: Professor Colin Sumners, PhD

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Biotechnology, 2005 UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO, MAYAGUEZ, PR

Certificate in Clinical Translational Science, 2012

Six Sigma Green Belt, In progress

LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES

Chair, IDP Graduate Student Organization (Aug 2011–Aug 2012)

Informal Science Educator, Various K-12 Schools in Gainesville, Florida (Aug 2010–Nov 2014)

Physical Examination Training Assistant, University of Florida (Aug 2010–Dec 2011)

Judge, Numerous Regional Science Fair in Gainesville, Florida (2011)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

American Heart Association

Society for Neuroscience: North Florida Chapter

Medical Science Liaison Society

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

NIH Research Supplement, Gut Microbial Dysbiosis in Hypertension, Sep 2014–Present

Carl Storm Fellowship, Angiotensin Gordon Research Conference, Mar 2014 Travel Award, Graduate Research Office, Mar 2014

Travel Award, McKnight Brain Institute, Apr 2015

SKILLS

Computer: RedCap Epic Software i2b2 iMedRis Microsoft Office Adobe Graph Pad Prism

Technical Knowledge: HTN and Stroke Animal Models Cell Culture Molecular Biology Immunohistochemistry In Situ Hybridization Column Chromatography Fluorescence Microscopy Renin-Angiotensin System Pathways

PUBLICATIONS

Chapter in Book:

Rodriguez, V., De Kloet, A.D., and Sumners, C. (2015). Hypertension and brain inflammation: Role of RAS-induced glial activation. In H. Girouard (Ed.), Hypertension and the brain as an end-organ target (181–194). Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

Articles in Journals:

de Kloet, A.D., Liu, M., Rodriguez, V., Krause, E.G., and Sumners, C. (2015). Role of neurons and glia in the CNS actions of the renin-angiotensin system in cardiovascular control. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 309(5). R444–R458.

Qi, Y., Aranda, J.M., Rodriguez, V., Raizada, M.K., and Pepine, C.J. (2015). Impact of antibiotics on renal blood pressure in a patient with resistant hypertension – A case report. International Journal of Cardiology, 201. 157–158. Yang, T*., Santisteban, M.M.*, Rodriguez, V.*, Li, E., Ahmari, N., Carvajal, J.M.,… Mohamadzadeh, M. (2015). Gut dysbiosis is linked to hypertension. Hypertension, 65(6). 1331–1340. (* Equal contribution) Joseph, J.P., Mecca, A.P., Regenheardt, R.W., Benion, D.M., Rodriguez, V., Desland, F.,…Sumners, C. (2014). The angiotensin type 2 receptor agonist Compound 21 elicits cerebroprotection in endothelin-1 induced ischemic stroke. Neuropharmacology, 81. 134–141.

In Preparation:

Rodriguez, V., de Kloet, A.D., Llerena, V., Sumenrs C. (2015). RAS-induced astrogliosis during neurogenic hypertension.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

Oral Presentation:

Kim, S., Rodriguez, V., Santisteban, M., Yang, T., Qi, Y., Raizada, M., and Pepine, C. (2015). Hypertensive patients exhibit gut microbial dysbiosis and an increase in TH17 cells. European Meeting on Hypertension and Cardiovascular protection. Italy.

Poster Presentations:

Rodriguez, V., de Kloet, A.D., Chan, T., and Sumners, C. (2014). RAS-induced hypertension is primarily mediated by prorenin receptor activation at the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Poster presented at the High Blood Pressure Council. California, USA.

Rodriguez, V., de Kloet, A.D., Llerena, V., Kitchen-Pareja, M.C., and Sumners, C. (2014). RAS-induced astrogliosis in neurogenic hypertension. Poster presented at the Gordon Research Conference. Italy. Rodriguez, V., de Kloet, A.D., Llerena, V., Kitchen-Pareja, M.C., and Sumners, C. (2013). Prorenin-induced pro-inflammatory effect in hypothalamic astrocytes from spontaneously hypertensive rats. Poster presented at the High Blood Pressure Council, Louisiana, USA.

Rodriguez, V., and Sumners, C. (2012). Pro-inflammatory action of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in hypothalamic astrocytes from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Poster presented at the Experimental Biology Conference. California, USA.

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