Project Manager Safety Officer

AVIJIT MAJUMDAR, Ph.D.

Sr. Scientist/Clinical Project Specialist

The Houston Methodist Research Institute

Houston, TX, USA

**** ********* ******, **** # ***, Houston, Texas 77054, USA

Phone: +1 (330) 554 – 8363 (cell); Email: *********@****************.***

CITIZENSHIP: US PERMANENT RESIDENCY (GREEN CARD HOLDER)

Cell & molecular biologist with more than 10 years research experience in areas such as

preclinical, clinical and translational research on cancer biology, cell & molecular biology,

hepatic stem cells and identification of new drug target.

As a Project Manager, leading, coordinating and completing projects related to strategic,

financial, and business development activities; provide analytical and specialized

administrative support to the Vice President or Director.

As a group leader, leading a team of clinical fellows, junior scientists, postdoctoral fellows,

lab technicians and graduate students; successfully submitted multiple RO1 grants.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS & AWARDS

2002 – 2008 Ph.D., Cellular & Molecular Biology Kent State University Kent, Ohio

USA

1999 – 2001 M.Sc., Biochemistry University of Calcutta India

1995 – 1999 B.Sc., Chemistry University of Calcutta India

Awards/Grants/Fellowships:

2013 Poster of Distinction Award DDW Conference Miami, Florida, USA

2008 – 2011 Postdoctoral Fellowship Case Western Reserve University Ohio, USA

2007 GSS Research Grant Award Kent State University Ohio, USA

2005 Excellence in Research Award Kent State University Ohio, USA

2002 – 2008 Research Fellowship School of Biomedical Sciences Kent State

University, USA

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE – RESEARCH

Apr., 2014 – present Clinical Project Specialist, Department of Radiation Oncology

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA

Conceptualized, planned, and initiated Investigator Initiated trial based on

preclinical research - currently coordinating phase II clinical trial for multiple

anticancer drugs.

Experienced in developing material transfer agreements (MTA), handling

regulatory affairs for research involving human subjects.

Supervising and coordinating preparation of all HSC, IBC, IACUC & IRB

protocols and regulatory documents.

Serves as a liaison between the Investigator and regulatory agencies,

Sponsors, IRB and The Methodist Hospital Research Institute.

AVIJIT MAJUMDAR, Ph.D.

Sr. Scientist/Clinical Project Specialist

The Houston Methodist Research Institute

Houston, TX, USA

8100 Cambridge Street, Unit # 139, Houston, Texas 77054, USA

Phone: +1 (330) 554 – 8363 (cell); Email: *********@****************.***

Actively serving as a reviewer and editorial board member of multiple journals on cancer

research.

Avijit Majumdar, Ph. D. +1 (330) 554 – 8363 *********@****************.***

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Apr., 2013 – Mar., 2014 Senior Research Scientist, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and

Nutrition

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas,

USA

(PI: Dr. Lopa Mishra, MD, Professor and Chair)

Projects and Accomplishments:

Developed and analyzed cell proliferation process for primary, immortalized

and stem cells of gastrointestinal origin.

Designed, conducted and analyzed research, preclinical studies on cancer

with small molecule inhibitors, gene targeting to transform the approach of cancer

therapy and to bring personalized cancer therapy in the clinic.

Experienced in isolation and characterization of DNA/RNA from immortalized

cell lines and human colonic adenoma tissue samples.

Extensive experience on tumor biology, in vitro assays, cytotoxic assays (staining with

propidium iodide & MTT assay), flow cytometry, RT-PCR, q-PCR, ddPCR, tumor stromal

cells, roles of tumor micro-environment in promoting metastatic progression of cancer.

Spearheaded the writing and organization of RO1 grants through leading a

group of scientists consisting postdoctoral fellows, graduate student and clinical

fellows.

Management: As a group leader, supervising and training junior scientists,

postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, graduate students and lab technicians in

various research projects.

Aug., 2011 – Mar., 2013Post Doctoral Fellow, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and

Nutrition University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,

Texas, USA

(PI: Dr. Lopa Mishra, MD, Professor and Chair)

Projects and Accomplishments:

Delineation of molecular details of CEA mediated inhibition of growth

suppressive TGF-β signaling thereby facilitating the process to target CEA in early

stages of colon cancer.

Identification of novel interacting proteins of Smad3 adaptor protein; β2-

Spectrin.

Functional validation of somatic mutation observed in alcohol induced

hepatocellular cancer patients.

Investigation of the role of β2-spectrin in conferring genomic stability.

March, 2008 – July, 2011 Post Doctoral Fellow and Radiation Safety Officer,

Department of Pharmacology

Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

(PI: Dr. Noa Noy, PhD, Professor)

Projects and Accomplishments:

Specialized in generating point mutants and performing meaningful assays in

cell culture system to determine the functional significance.

Established molecular mechanism relating enhanced RBP level and insulin

resistance in diabetic patients.

Avijit Majumdar, Ph. D. +1 (330) 554 – 8363 *********@****************.***

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Identification of the particular amino acid residue modified by sumoylation.

Trained pre-medical and doctoral students and provided feedback on their

performance.

Performed the duty of Radiation Safety Officer for the laboratory.

Aug, 2002 – Feb, 2008 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Biomedical

Sciences

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA

(PI: Dr. Bansidhar Datta, PhD, Associate Professor)

Avijit Majumdar, Ph. D. +1 (330) 554 – 8363 *********@****************.***

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Projects and Accomplishments:

Elucidation of the mechanistic details of functionality of anti-angiogenic drug

fumagillin.

Identification of novel tumor suppressor function of MetAp2/P67 through

gene therapy approach inhibiting the oncogenic transformation mediated by KRas.

Performed cell viability assays, soft agar assay, wound healing assay, foci

formation assay, Protein purification, affinity chromatography, size exclusion

chromatography, characterization, cloning and expression of protein in bacterial,

insect and mammalian cells.

Maintained laboratory equipment, ensure high operating standards and

cleanliness.

Managed multiple projects simultaneously in addition to significant teaching

load.

Aug, 2002 – Feb, 2008 Laboratory Instructor, Department of Chemistry and

Biochemistry

Kent state University, Kent, Ohio, USA

Developed a nd taught a new experimental lab course o n Advanced Biological

C hemistry for the p re-medical, pre-dental and Pharmacy undergraduate students.

Taught (5 years) lab coursework and advanced Cell & Molecular Biology

experimental techniques i ncluding cloning,

genetic engineering, and protein purification

etc. to undergraduate students (class of 25 students).

ESTABLISHED PROFICIENCIES

Teaching and Management Skills:

Supervising and training junior scientists, postdoctoral fellows, undergrad, graduate

students and lab technicians in various lab techniques, managing their projects, helping

with manuscript preparations, and troubleshoot technical problems.

Training personnel on using new equipment or techniques (confocal microscopy, Q-

PCR, immunohistochemistry, cell culture, protein purification animal tissue isolation and

processing etc).

Cell Biology:

Mammalian, bacterial & insect cell culture, stem cell culture, transfection

Cell viability assays, soft agar assay, wound healing assay, foci formation assay

Stable cell line generation (isolation, screening, single-clone expansion and

immortalization), screening, frozen cell stock preparation, FACS, flowcytometry.

Molecular Biology:

PCR, cloning, site directed mutagenesis, RNAi, siRNA

Semi-quantitative RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, reporter gene assay

Plasmid DNA preparation, electroporation, DNA/RNA extraction, competent cell

preparation, transformation, gel electrophoresis for DNA & RNA

Avijit Majumdar, Ph. D. +1 (330) 554 – 8363 *********@****************.***

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Protein Based Assays:

Confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry of human tissue samples, mass

spectrometry

Experienced in pathological analysis of human colonic tissue samples

Protein purification, affinity chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, HPLC,

cloning, expression and characterization of protein in bacterial, insect and mammalian

cells

Western blot, immunoprecipitation, gel electrophoresis for proteins

ELISA, functional assays

Avijit Majumdar, Ph. D. +1 (330) 554 – 8363 *********@****************.***

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Human Tissue Work:

Collecting human colonic adenoma tissue samples from patients during colonoscopy after

obtaining consent from the patients, isolation of DNA & RNA, analyzing the whole genome

& whole exome profile of patients looking for variation in gene expression, copy number,

mutation etc., and validating somatic mutation through cell based assay.

Experienced in developing material transfer agreements (MTA), handling regulatory affairs

for research involving human subjects.

Animal Research:

Animal ordering, breeding, genotyping, husbandry, protocol writing, intra-dermal cells

implantation, intra-peritoneal (IP) implantation, cell isolation from mouse embryo, general

animal procedures (bleeding, IP injections, etc.).

Animal Models: Xenograft, transgenic and knockout mouse models, Colony maintenance,

genotyping

Equipment Used:

PCR cycler, spectrophotometer, ELISA plate reader, ultra-speed centrifuge, Vacuum

evaporators, Confocal Microscope, Real time PCR, Light and Phase contrast microscope,

Gel-doc, flow cytometer etc.

Computer Skills: Advanced level in MS Office products (Word, Excel, Power Point), Adobe,

Origin.

PUBLICATIONS IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS

1. Majumdar, A., Chen, J., Lin, S.H., Katz, L., Raju, G.S., Shetty, K., White, J., Wu, X.,

Rashid, A., McMurray, J.S., Su, X., Shaw, K., Weston, B., Thirumurthy, S., He, A.R.,

Mishra, L. Whole genome analysis of colon adenomas reveals novel prognostic and

therapeutic targets. (in preparation)

2. Chen, J., Shukla, V., Chen, J.S., Phan, L., Munoz, N.M., Katz, L., Majumdar, A.,

Farci, P., Shetty, K., Wu, X., Rashid, A., Su, X., Mishra, B., Li, L., Chen, J., Reddy, P.,

Hittelman, W., Wang, A.Y., Mishra, L. Dysregulation of the TGF-β pathway leads to

genomic instability and liver cancer. (Submitted)

3. Katz, L., Li, Y., Chen J.S., Munoz, N., Majumdar, A., Chen, J., Mishra, L. Targeting

TGF-β signaling in cancer. Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 17 (7): 743-760,

(2013).

4. Majumdar, A., Curley, S.A., Wu, X., Brown, P., Hwang, J.P., Shetty, K., Yao, Z.X.,

He, A.R., Li, S., Katz, L., Farci, P., Mishra, L . Hepatic stem cells and transforming

growth factor – β in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology &

Hepatology, 9 (9): 530-538, (2012).

5. Majumdar, A., Petrescu, AD, Xiong, Y., Noy, N. Nuclear translocation of cellular

retinoic acid binding protein II is regulated by retinoic acid controlled Sumoylation. J

Biol.Chem., 286 (49), 427**-*****, (2011).

Berry, D., Jin, H., Majumdar, A., Noy, N. Signalling by vitamin A and retinol-binding protein

regulates gene expression to inhibit insulin responses. PNAS, 108(11), 4340-4345,

Avijit Majumdar, Ph. D. +1 (330) 554 – 8363 *********@****************.***

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(2011). Impact Factor: 9.88 (Selected as an editor’s choice article in Science

Signaling 4, ec 83, 2011).

Avijit Majumdar, Ph. D. +1 (330) 554 – 8363 *********@****************.***

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6. Majumdar, A., Ghosh, A., Datta, S., Prudner, B.C., Datta, B. p67/MetAP2

suppresses K-RasV12 mediated transformation of NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts in culture

and in athymic mice. Biochemistry, 49(47), 101**-*****, (2010).

7. Datta B., Ghosh, A., Majumdar, A., and Datta, R. Auto – Proteolysis of rat p67

generates several peptide fragments: The N – Terminal Fragment, p26, is required for

the protection of eIF2α from Phosphorylation. Biochemistry, 46, 3465-3475, (2007).

8. Ghosh, A., Datta, R., Majumdar, A., Bhattacharya, M., Datta, B. The N – terminal

lysine residue rich domain II and the 340-430 amino acid segment of eukaryotic

initiation factor 2 associated glycoprotein p67 are the binding sites for the γ - subunit of

eIF2. Exp. Cell. Res. 312, 3184-3203, (2006).

9. 10. Datta, B., Datta, R., Ghosh, A., Majumdar, A. The binding between p67 and

eukaryotic initiation factor 2 plays important roles in the protection of eIF2α from

phosphorylation by kinases. Archives Biochemistry and Biophysics, 452, 138-148,

(2006).

10. Datta, B., Datta, R., Majumdar, A., Ghosh, A. The stability of eukaryotic initiation

factor 2- associated glycoprotein, p67, increases during skeletal muscle differentiation

and that inhibits the phosphorylation of extracellular signal- regulated kinases 1 and 2.

Exp. Cell Res. 303, 174-182, (2005).

11. Datta, B., Majumdar, A., Datta, R., Balusu, R. Treatment of cells with the

angiogenic inhibitor Fumagillin results in increased stability of eukaryotic initiation factor

2- associated glycoprotein, p67, and reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-

regulated kinases. Biochemistry, 43, 148**-*****, (2004).

12. Datta, B., Datta, R., Ghosh, A., Majumdar, A. Eukaryotic association factor 2-

associated glycoprotein, p67, shows differential effects on the activity of certain kinases

during serum-starved conditions. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 427,

68-78, (2004).

INVITED ORAL PRESENTATIONS

1. Majumdar, A., Li, Y., Lin, S.H., Mishra, L. Targeting CEA in the treatment of

advanced Colorectal Cancer. 23rd International Symposium on CEA, Toledo, Ohio,

USA (2013).

2. Majumdar, A., Petrescu, AD, Noy, N. Modulation of the activity of Cellular Retinoic

Acid Binding Protein – II by Sumoylation. FASEB Summer Research Conference on

Retinoids. Carefree, Arizona, USA (2010).

3. Majumdar, A., Petrescu, AD, Noy, N. Modulation of the activity of Cellular Retinoic

Acid Binding Protein – II by Sumoylation. Dept. of Pharmacology Retreat, Case

Western Reserve University, Ohio, USA (2009).

4. Majumdar, A., Ghosh, A., Datta, R., Datta, B. Analysis of the interacting domains of

eukaryotic initiation factor 2 associated glycoprotein p67 and extra-cellular signal

regulated kinase 2. Graduate Student Senate Research Conference, KSU, Ohio,

USA (2006).

Avijit Majumdar, Ph. D. +1 (330) 554 – 8363 *********@****************.***

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5. Majumdar, A., Ghosh, A., Datta, R., Datta, B. Analysis of the interacting domains of

eukaryotic initiation factor 2 associated glycoprotein p67 and extra-cellular signal

regulated kinase 2. Biomedical Sciences Research Conference, NEOUCOM, Ohio,

USA (2006).

ABSTRACTS PUBLISHED IN CONFERENCES

Avijit Majumdar, Ph. D. +1 (330) 554 – 8363 *********@****************.***

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1. Majumdar A., Li, Y., Lin, S.H., Mishra, L. CEA: A therapeutic target for the treatment

of advanced colorectal cancer. American Association of Cancer Research Annual

Conference. Washington DC, USA (2013).

2. Majumdar A., Li, Y., Lin, S.H., Mishra, L. CEA induces colorectal cancer metastases

by disrupting TGF-β signaling. Division of Internal Medicine Research Retreat, M. D.

Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA (2012).

3. Majumdar A., Li, Y., Lin, S.H., Mishra, L. CEA induces colorectal cancer metastases

by disrupting TGF-β signaling. American Association of Cancer Research Annual

Conference. Chicago, Illinois, USA (2012).

4.Majumdar, A., Petrescu, AD, Noy, N. Modulation of the activity of Cellular Retinoic

Acid Binding Protein – II by Sumoylation. FASEB Summer Research Conference on

Retinoids. Carefree, Arizona, USA (2010).

5. Majumdar, A., Petrescu, AD, Noy, N. Modulation of the activity of Cellular Retinoic

Acid Binding Protein – II by Sumoylation. Jensen Symposium on Nuclear Receptors,

University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (2009).

6. Majumdar, A., Datta, R., Ghosh, A., Datta, B. K-RasV12 mediated transformation of

NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts is suppressed by an eIF2 - associated, glycoprotein, p67.

Signaling in Cancer Meeting, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio, USA

(2007).

7. Datta, B., Majumdar, A., Ghosh, A., Datta, R. Mechanistic details of balancing cell

growth and inhibition by eIF2 - associated glycoprotein, p67. Translational Control

Meeting, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA (2006).

8. Majumdar, A., Ghosh, A., Datta, R., Datta, B. Analysis of interacting domains of

eukaryotic initiation factor - 2 associated glycoprotein p67 and extracellular signal

regulated kinases 1 and 2. Biomedical Science Research Conference, Cleveland

Clinic Foundation - Lerner Research Institute, Ohio, USA (2005).

9. Datta, B., Majumdar, A., Datta, R., Balusu, R. Angiogenic inhibitor, Fumagillin

increases the stability of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 - associated glycoprotein, p67,

and that inhibitsthe phosphorylation of extracellular signal - regulated kinases 1 and 2.

Translational Control Meeting, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA (2004).

10. Majumdar, A., Chakraborty, A., Ghosh, A., Datta, R., Datta, B. Domain analysis of

p67 required for the eIF2α phosphorylation and generation of knockout mouse model.

Biomedical Science Research Conference, Kent State University, Ohio, USA

(2004).

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES

Reviewer – 14 Journals including Plos One, Plos- Computational Biology, Biochemical

Pharmacology, Anti – Cancer Drugs, Molecular Carcinogenesis etc.

Editorial Board Member – International Journal of Advanced Biomedical Research

(IJABR), The Scitech Journal and Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, Asian Journal

of Pharmaceutical and Health Science.

AFFILIATIONS

Avijit Majumdar, Ph. D. +1 (330) 554 – 8363 *********@****************.***

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Life Member: Sigma Xi; Associate Member: American Association of Cancer

ResearchReferences are available upon request

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