Principal Scientist

Location:

Irvine, CA

Posted:

February 17, 2016

Contact this candidate

Resume:

Resume

Ganesh Diwakar, Ph.D

* ******* ****** ** ***** USA

Email: actkgc@r.postjobfree.com

Visa status: Green Card (Permanent Resident)

Combined Industry and academic research experience: 13 years

Salary Requirement: Negotiable

Present Position: Principal Scientist/Sr. Manager, External Research and Technology Development., Allergan Inc, a growth Pharma company. Conducting in vivo drug development, bioassay development, diagnostic assays, clinical testing and claims substantiation. Experienced in CRO review and completion of the study.

Expertise:

High Throughput (HTP) screening models and tissue model development for discovery and development of compounds through data mining of pigmentation gene pathways.

cDNA Microarray proof of concept studies and discovery of COX pathway inhibitors using dermagenomic microarray approach.

3 Granted patents on skin lightening compositions.

Discovery of novel ingredient technologies through internal research or through external partnerships.

Extensive experience in hands on development of molecular and cellular assays such as:

ELISA based diagnostic assays for growth factor/cytokine detection and quantitation from serum/cell lysatese.g PGE2, interleukins, growth factors.

PCR based diagnostic assays and approaches for genotyping and differentiating wild type from mutants in cell lines or tissues.

Hands on expertise in designing primers or real time PCR, RNA isolation, real time PCR and data analysis.

Real time PCR expression assay for comparative or quantitative determination of copy number of gene of interest and analysis.

High throughout (HTP) Reporter assays development using response element against specific promoters of transcription factors.

Microarray cDNA experimentation, data analysis using NIH software, sequence homology determination scbt or ensemble genome browsers.

Flow cytometry using FACS caliber for separating specific cells e.g (keratinocytes from melanocytes or langerhan cells) by immunolabelling with specific antibodies. Knowledge of cell sorting using FACS sorters.

Immunohistochemical procedures, Western blotting (Protein expression), co-cultures or single cell staining using specific antibodies (Markers).

PCR array for target gene identification and validation.

Familiar HPLC methods for chemical analysis, quantitative Structure-activity relationships (QSAR).

Epigenetic assays (DNA Methylation, acetylation) and chromatic immunoprecipitation assays.

microRNA and siRNA based PCR and pathway based qPCR analysis.

Research Interest and expertise: Targeting cell signaling pathways, genomic and proteomic data mining and interpretation using pathway models and cell line development, skin stem cell biology, neuronal, melanocyte and keratinocyte development and differentiation, skin ageing mechanisms, melanocyte and melanoma stem cell biology and mechanisms of hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation.

Software Expertise: Conversant in using MS office applications such as Word, Excel and Power point. Adobe applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, reader and writer. Well conversant with Lotus notes. In vitro and in vivo data analysis tools and softwares.

Academic Qualifications

Ph.D Biochemistry, Hamdard University, Delhi India, 2001

MSc (Master of Science) Biosciences, Jamia University, Delhi, India, 1990

BSc (Bachelor of Science) Chemistry-Major, Jamia University, Delhi, India 1987

Work Chronology:

January, 2015-Present: Principal Scientist/Sr. Manager, External Research and Technology Development., Allergan Inc.

March, 2008-Jan, 2015 Pigment Cell Scientist-Analytical Sciences, Bioassay Group, R&D at Alticor (Amway) Inc. a Cosmetic and Nutritional company based in Ada MI since March, 2008. Primary role: Discovery, Assay development, functional diagnostic assays for detection & quantitation of GFs, new ingredient discovery, product development, claims substantiation and support for novel OTC ingredient technologies.

June, 2006-January, 2008: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Dermatology Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit MI. Transcriptional regulation of different promoters which are functionally relevant to melanoma and lymphoma

July, 2001-May, 2006: Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Dr. Thomas J Hornyak, Dermatology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD.

November, 2000-December, 2000: Visiting Scientific Fellow in the laboratory of Prof. Stephan Krahenbuhl, Head, Division of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.

Scientific Recognition: Received/ awarded

June, 2006: Received Certificate/Citation for successful completion of Research training at Dermatology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

July, 2003: Received Centre for Cancer Research Visiting Fellowship for pursuing Postdoctoral Research at Dermatology Branch, National Institutes of Health.

September, 2002: Received Travel Award for attending 18th International Conference on Pigment Cell Research at Egmond Aan Zee, The Netherlands.

June, 1992: Recipient of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) Award conducted by CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial research)-UGC (University Grants Commission) India.

Academic / Research Profile

March, 2008- January, 2014: Assay Development, ingredient discovery, genotyping, PCR arrays, flow cytometry.

June, 2006-January, 2008

Transcriptional regulation of different promoters which are functionally relevant to melanoma and lymphoma.

August, 2001-May, 2006

Summary of the project:

Neurofibromin and melanocytes: Melanocytes are an important cell type in NF1 (Neurofibromatosis type 1) and melanocyte proliferation is a characteristic sign of the disease and yet little is known about the differences in the cellular behavior of the melanocyte in NF1. It is a genetic disease known to affect 1 in 4000 individuals. In addition patients with NF1 are at risk for developing melanoma Biochemically,. Many Nf1 deficient tumors show elevated levels of Ras and or Ras-MAP kinase activity. My work on neurofibromin has shown that it regulates melanocyte development and differentiation.

Publications:

Inhibitory effect of a combination of chia seed extract and pomegranate fruit extract on melanin production. Ganesh Diwakar, Jat Rana, Lisa Saito, Doug Vredeveld, Dorothy Zemaitis, Jeff Scholten. Accepted for Publication. Fitoterapia, June, 2014.

Inhibition of melanin content by Punicalagins in the super fruit pomegranate (punica granatum). Jatinder Rana, Ganesh Diwakar, Lisa Saito, Jeffrey D Scholten and Timothy Mulder. J. Cosmet. Sci, 64, 1-9, 2013

Inhibition of melanin production by a combination of siberian larch and pomegranate fruit extract. Ganesh Diwakar, Jatinder Rana, Jeffrey D Scholten. Fitoterapia, 83(6), 989-95, 2012.

Characterization of melanocyte label retaining cells (LRCs) by microarray analysis. Ha-Young Hwang, Ganesh Diwakar, Shunlin Jiang, Aleksandra M Michalowska, Mohammed R Zaidi, Glenn Merlino, Thomas Hornyak. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Res, 21 (2), 2008, 259.

Neurofibromin regulates melanocyte development and differentiation. Ganesh Diwakar, Deming Zhang, Shunlin Jiang, Thomas Hornyak. J Cell Sci, 121, 2008, 167-177.

Café-au-lait Patches and senile plaques: How APPt the connection? Ganesh Diwakar and Thomas Hornyak. Journal of Invest. Derm, 126 (3) 2006, 547-50.

Altered Melanocyte Differentiation and RPE Transdifferentiation Induced by Mash1 Expression in Pigment Cell Precursors. Jessica L. Lanning, Jaclyn S. Wallace, Deming Zhang, Ganesh Diwakar, Zhongxian Jiao and Thomas J Hornyak.V. J of Invest. Derm, 125 (4) 2005 p805.

Increased pigmentation gene expression in Kit positive Nf1+/- melanocytes. Ganesh Diwakar, Deming Zhang, Thomas Hornyak. Pigment cell Research, 18 (supp.1), 2005, p37.

Attenuation by boron supplementation of the biochemical changes associated with thioacetamide induced hepatic lesions. Ali S, Diwakar G, Pawa S. J Trace Elem in Exp Med, 15 (1), 2002, 47-55.

Xanthine oxidase-derived reactive oxygen metabolites contribute to liver necrosis: protection by 4-hydroxypyrazolo [3,4-d] pyrimidine. Ali S, Diwakar G, Pawa S, Siddiqui M R, Abdin M Z, Ahmad F J, Jain S K. Biochem Biophys Acta, 1536 (1), 2001, 21-30.

Nardostachys jatamansi protects against liver damage induced by thioacetamide in rats. Ali S, Ansari K A, Jafry M A, Kabeer H, Diwakar G. J Ethanopharmacology, 71 (3), 2000, 359-63.

Partial characterization of an abundant human skin melanosomal 66Kda protein (MP66) and investigation to purify similar protein from B16 murine melanoma tumors. Badisa R.B, Ganesh D, Ramaiah A, Fatima T. Melanoma Research, 10, 2000, 515-526.

Paraquat induces different pulmonary biochemical responses in Wistar rats and Swiss mice. S. Ali, G. Diwakar, S. Pawa. Chemico-Biol Interact, 125, 2000, 79-91.

Antioxidant BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene) augments paraquat induced pulmonary damage in rats. Effect on antioxidant defense system enzymes. G. Diwakar, S. Pawa, S. K. Jain, S. Ali. Toxicology & Environmental Health, Soceity of Biosciences, 1999, 217-221.

Effect of an abundant human skin melanosomal 66 Kd protein (MP 66) on murine tyrosinase: Its physiological implications on melanogenesis. B. Ramesh Babu, G. Diwakar, A. Ramaiah, T. Fatma. J Biosci, 23 (2), 1998, 125-129.

Patents and ICR (Invention Conception Report):

Patents:

2009: Application for Patent to USPTO on the skin whitening potential of botanical ingredients. Filed: 08/13/2009, Granted: 03/31/2011. Patent Application No. 12540626. Inventors: Jatinder Rana and Ganesh Diwakar

2009: Filed ICR on the “Skin whitening application of Taxifolin. Ganesh Diwakar, Jatinder Rana, Marleah Russo.

2010: ICR: The utility patent application no. 12/715,156 entitled Skin Whitening Composition Containing Chia Seed Extract was filed on March 1, 2010. Inventors: Jat Rana, Ganesh Diwakar, Jeffery Scholten.

2011: Granted. Topical composition with skin whitening effect. Jatinder Rana, Ganesh Diwakar. US patent No. 7897184.

2011: Skin whitening composition containing chia seed extract: Jatider Rana, Ganesh Diwakar an Jeff Scholten: USPTO Pub No. US2011/0212201A1 Date: Sep 1, 2011.

2012: Filed provisional US Patent application on skin whitening application of Tara: Jatinder Rana, Ganesh Diwakar, Johnson Han, Teric Li and Jeff Scholten.

2012: Granted. Topical composition with skin whitening effect. Jatinder Rana, Ganesh Diwakar. US patent No. 8,202,556.

2014: Granted. Skin whitening composition containing chia seed extract. US Patent No. 8, 685,472

References:

Wolfgang Leitner, PhD

Program Officer

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Basic Immunology Branch

6610 Rockledge Drive

Rm 3070 MSC6601

Bethesda, MD 20892

Tel: 301-***-****

Fax: 301-***-****