Research Specialist

RESEARCH SPECIALIST

Qualifications Summary

Highly committed, methodical, and results-focused professional with extensive experience in the areas of cell and tissue culture, protein chemistry, phase and clinical trials, real-time polymerase chain reaction, DNA and protein purification, and western blotting.

Skilled in a wide range of laboratory procedures, encompassing ultraviolet spectroscopy, DNA sequencing, plasmid preparation, PCR amplification, and filter-binding assays.

Armed with hands-on background in overseeing supplies procurement, equipment cleaning and maintenance, budget administration, along with grants and proposals writing,

Expert at conducting extensive research; collecting specimens; analyzing data; recording observations; as well as establishing and implementing radiation and biohazard safety procedures.

Known as dedicated research associate, with several scientific articles and researches in leading journals and publications as well as presentations throughout the scientific and academic fields.

Technically proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), PhotoShop, SigmaPlot, Graph Pad Prism, and ImageJ.

Education

Master of Science in Biochemistry § The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

Master of Science in Biochemistry § Pune University, Pune, MH, India

Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry § Osmania University, Hyderabad, TS, India

Research Experience

The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

Research Specialist, Surgery/Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology Feb 2016–May 2018

Software Used: Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, & PowerPoint), PhotoShop, GraphPad Prism, & ImageJ

Effectively perform tissue culture, freezing, and thawing; MTT assay; and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) techniques

Direct two summer 2016 student projects, which entail preparing and maintaining a detailed laboratory notebook

Take charge of cataloging and guaranteeing complete records of patient samples in freezers and processing clinical trial serum for qPCR, isolating deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and applying Bisulfite treatment

Keep abreast with new protocols by conducting researches and reviewing related literature

Render assistance in preparing figures for publication, drafting publications and grant proposals, reviewing final versions of papers and proposals, and offering critical suggestions for improvement

Led a successful proposal of a two-year grant (equivalent to R21) from Astex Pharmaceuticals in January 2017

Research Specialist, Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Department of Oncology Oct 2015–Feb 2016

Software: Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, & PowerPoint), PhotoShop, GraphPad Prism, & ImageJ

Executed the following tasks in support of laboratory members and research collaborators;

oTissue culture as well as cell freezing and thawing;

oRibonucleic acid (RNA) and complementary DNA (cDNA) isolation from cells;

oReverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) data analysis;

oNuclear protein extraction and cell viability assays;

oProtein lysates from cells, western blots, protein arrays, and densitometry on protein arrays;

oFlow cytometry cell preparation to detect proliferation;

oApoptosis and surface detection of PDL1 on cell surface; and

oCell viability assay data analysis

Assumed accountability in maintaining a detailed laboratory notebook and recording antibodies used in western blots, while aiding in the development of new assays for the laboratory

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA

Research Specialist, Upper Aerodigestive Oncology Nov 2013–Oct 2015

Software: Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, & PowerPoint), PhotoShop, GraphPad Prism, & ImageJ

Administered the processing of blood samples for clinical study and maintenance of complete records on patient information and processed samples

Cultivated and sustained regular interaction with the clinical staff, while closely coordinating with other centers involved in the same study

Maintained active communication with budget managers and vendors while liaising with IT support to aid in troubleshooting laboratory computer problems

Documented and monitored inventory of items ordered, including freezer contents; forwarded STR (Short Tandem Repeats) samples; and cleaned freezers and fridges, histology, and micro array at the cores

Demonstrated ability in training postdocs, instructors, and fellows while overseeing FedEx shipments

Research Specialist, Epigenetics Nov 2008–Nov 2013

Carried out laboratory management and general housekeeping duties such as maintaining and calibrating laboratory and other equipment; ordering and purchasing supplies; and maintaining cleanliness of -20 and -80 freezers

Held responsibility for bone marrow and blood processing from patients to gather peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), MTT assay, PCR, and DNA isolation from patient samples

Took charge of running gels and creating catalog for phase trial patient samples that included tissue culture, bisulphide treatment of DNA, and western blots

Earlier Positions Held:

University of Maryland, Center for Celiac Research & Mucosal Biology Research Center, Baltimore, MD, USA

Research Technician, Protein Biochemistry

University of Maryland, Hematology/Oncology Division, Baltimore, MD, USA

Research Technician, Pediatric Oncology

The Ohio State University, Department of Molecular Genetics, Columbus, OH, USA

Research Associate, Internal Medicine

The Ohio State University, Department of Biochemistry, Columbus, OH, USA

Graduate Research Associate

Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre (Medical Physics Division), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Tissue Culture Research Technician

University of Pune, National Animal Tissue Culture Facility, Pune, MH, India

Tissue Culture Research Assistant

Professional Experience

“Wings To Go” Restaurant, Baltimore, MD, USA

Owner May 2007–Nov 2008

Ottawa/Carleton Boards of Education, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Substitute Teacher (Grades 9 to 13)

Publications

Journal Articles

Thakar, M[1]., Hu, Y., Morreale, M., Lerner, L., Lin, W.Y., Sen, R., ... and Ahuja, N1. (2018). A novel epigenetic modulating agent sensitizes pancreatic cells to a chemotherapy agent. PLOS One, 13(6), e0199130.

Fischer, C.D.C., Hu, Y., Morreale, M., Lin, W.Y., Wali, A., Thakar, M[2]., ... and Zahnow, C.A. (2018). Treatment with epigenetic agents profoundly inhibits tumor growth in leiomyosarcoma. Oncotarget, 9(27), 19379.

Stein-O’Brien, G., Kagohara, L. T., Li, S., Thakar, M., Ranaweera, R., Ozawa, H., ... and Fertig, E.J. (2018). Integrated time course omics analysis distinguishes immediate therapeutic response from acquired resistance. Genome Medicine, 10(1), 37.

De Carvalho Fischer, C., Hu, Y., Morreale, M., Lin, W.Y., Wali, A., Thakar, M., ... and Ahuja, N. (2018). Treatment with epigenetic agents profoundly inhibits tumor growth in Leiomyosarcoma. OncoTarget, 9(27), 193**-*****.

Fertig, E.J., Ozawa, H., Thakar, M., Howard, J.D., Kagohara, L.T., Krigsfeld, G., ... and Favorov, A.V. (2016). CoGAPS matrix factorization algorithm identifies transcriptional changes in AP-2alpha target genes in feedback from therapeutic inhibition of the EGFR network. Oncotarget, 7(45), 738**-*****.

Cheng, H., Fertig, E.J., Ozawa, H., Hatakeyama, H., Howard, J. D., Perez, J., ... and Chung, C. H. (2015). Decreased SMAD4 expression is associated with induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cetuximab resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Biology & Therapy, 16(8), 1252-1258.

Fandy, T.E., Jiemjit, A., Thakar, M., Rhoden, P., Suarez, L., and Gore, S.D. (2014). Decitabine induces delayed reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in leukemia cells and induces the expression of ROS generating enzymes. Clin. Cancer Res.,20(5), 1249.

Goldblum, S.E., Rai, U., Tripathi, A., Thakar, M., De Leo, L., Di Toro, N., ... and Fasano, A. (2011). The active Zot domain (aa 288–293) increases ZO-1 and myosin 1C serine/threonine phosphorylation, alters interaction between ZO-1 and its binding partners, and induces tight junction disassembly through proteinase activated receptor 2 activation. The FASEB journal, 25(1), 144-158.

Drago, S., El Asmar, R., Di Pierro, M., Grazia Clemente, M., Sapone, A.T.A., Thakar, M., ... and Zampini, L. (2006). Gliadin, zonulin and gut permeability: Effects on celiac and non-celiac intestinal mucosa and intestinal cell lines. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 41(4), 408-419.

Salama, N. N., Fasano, A., Thakar, M., and Eddington, N. D. (2005). The impact of ΔG on the oral bioavailability of low bioavailable therapeutic agents. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 312(1), 199-205.

Salama, N. N., Fasano, A., Thakar, M., and Eddington, N. D. (2004). The effects of delta G on the transport and oral absorption of macromolecules. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 93(5), 1310-1319.

Toretsky, J.A., Steinberg, S.M., Thakar, M., Counts, D., Pironis BA, B., Parente BA, C., ... and Wexler, L.H. (2001). Insulin like growth factor type 1 (IGF–1) and IGF binding protein–3 in patients with Ewing sarcoma family of tumors. Cancer: Interdisciplinary International Journal of the American Cancer Society, 92(11), 2941-2947.

Toretsky, J.A., Thakar, M., Eskenazi, A.E., and Frantz, C.N. (1999). Phosphoinositide 3-hydroxide kinase blockade enhances apoptosis in the Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumors. Cancer Research, 59(22), 5745-5750.

Souza, R.F., Wang, S., Thakar, M., Smolinski, K.N., Yin, J., Zou, T.T., ... and Meltzer, S.J. (1999). Expression of the wild-type insulin-like growth factor II receptor gene suppresses growth and causes death in colorectal carcinoma cells. Oncogene, 18(28), 4063

Thakar, M., Bilenko, A., and Becktel, W.J. (1994). Osmolyte mediation of T7 DNA polymerase and plasmid DNA stability. Biochemistry, 33(40), 122**-*****.

Raaphorst, G.P., Bussey, A., Thakar, M., Bichay, T., and Ng, C.E. (1993). Postirradiation exposure to hypotonic saline shows normal damage processing in radiation-sensitive cell lines. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 64(5), 593-600.

Raaphorst, G.P., Thakar, M., and Ng, C.E. (1993). Thermal radiosensitization in two pairs of CHO wild-type and radiation-sensitive mutant cell lines. International Journal of Hyperthermia, 9(3), 383-391.

Poster Presentations

De Carvalho Fischer, C., Hu, Y., Singh, J., Thakar, M.S., Thakar, M., and Ahuja, N (2017). Treatment with demethylating drugs inhibits tumor growth in leiomyosarcoma cell lines and xenograft models. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Special Conference on Advances in Sarcomas, Philadelphia, PA.

Hu, Y., Thakar, M., Thakar, M.S., Saggi, S., and Ahuja, N. (2017). Episensitizing pancreatic cell lines to irinotecan treatment using guadecitabine. Society for Surgical Oncology (SSO) 2017 Conference, Seattle WA.

Thakar, M., Fasano, A., Goldblum, S., and Not, S.T, (2006). The active motif of Zot, AT1002, increases ZO-1 and Myosin 1 Beta serine phosphorylation, their interaction, and intestinal permeability. Digestive Disease Week (DDW 2006) Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

Thakar, M., Fasano, A., Vogel, S., and Kou, J. (2005). The Vibrio Cholera-generated Zonulin occludens Toxin (Zot) N-terminal Cleavage Site Contains a Protease-activated Receptor Activating Peptide (PAR-AP) That Retains Biological Activity on Intestinal Tight Junctions. Digestive Disease Week (DDW 2005) Conference, Chicago, IL.

Thakar, M., Gutkind, S., Eskenazi, A., and Toretsky, J. (1999). AKT enables ewings sarcoma family of tumors to survive doxorubicin therapy. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.

Toretsky, J., Thakar, M., and Eskenazi, A. (1999). Blockade of phosphoinositide 3OH kinase augments doxorubicin toxiclty in Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors. International Society of Pediatric Oncology and American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Montreal, Canada.

Toretsky, J.A., Helman, L.J., Parente, C., Steinberg, S., Piromis, B., Counts, D., … and Thakar, M. (1999). IGF-I and apoptosis in the ewing's sarcoma family of tumors. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Atlanta, GA.

Thakar, M., Subramanian, D., Spitzner, J.R., and Muller, M. (1996). Topoisomerases and topoisomerase poisons: Studies in MCF-7 cells and hela cells in vitro assays, and x-ray crystallography. Breast Tumor Project Poster Session Ohio State University, Columbus OH.

[1] Shared corresponding authorship

[2] Shared corresponding authorship

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