Heather Elizabeth Metz, PhD

acws07@r.postjobfree.com • 724-***-****

SUMMARY

Ten years of experience studying the role of inflammation in tumor development:

LSL-K-ras and EGFR mouse models of lung cancer including pre-clinical small molecule drug/mAb studies.

Staining and analyzing human tissue microarray for correlation of markers with patient outcomes.

In vitro mechanistic experience with human and mouse cancer, fibroblast and immune cells.

10+ color flow cytometric analysis of immune cell composition in tumor microenvironment.

Isolating and culturing tumor infiltrating lymphocytes from human surgical specimens.

Western blotting, microarray, rt-PCR, ELISA, IHC, flow cytometry, proliferation/apoptotic assays, IFNγ tumor reactivity, shRNA, siRNA, CRISPR, in vivo injections, IF, Co-IP, PDX, Xenograft.

EXPERIENCE

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (research adviser: Dr. A. McGarry Houghton) 06/2016 – present

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh and Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (research adviser: Dr. A. McGarry Houghton) 07/2009 – 06/2016

Doctoral Researcher

Studying the onco-immunologic role of Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 in regulation of immune cell content in lung adenocarcinoma tumor microenvironment.

Staining and analysis of human lung adenocarcinoma tissue microarray for correlation with patient outcomes (IHC, Aperio Genie).

Developing and performing in vitro assays to interrogate gene and protein functions including the effects of manipulating signaling pathways and the subsequent impact on immune cell recruitment to the tumor microenvironment (rt-PCR gene expression, western blotting, ELISA).

Running mechanistic studies using gene silencing and overexpression techniques to create transient (siRNA) and stable (lentiviral shRNA, CRISPR) cancer and fibroblast cell lines including treatment with cytokines and oncology drugs.

Working with murine models of lung cancer (KRAS and EGFR) and xenograft models, including pre-clinical small molecule drug/mAbs studies (IP injections, oral gavage).

Performing and analyzing 10+ color flow cytometry, including intracellular cytokine staining and T-cell exhaustion markers in mouse and human lung and lung tumor samples to evaluate immune cell composition in tumor microenvironment.

Isolating and culturing human tumor infiltrating lymphocytes from lung, head and neck, and bladder cancer surgical specimens.

Immune cell assays including co-culture of neutrophils, T-cells and cancer cells (proliferation assays, IFNγ tumor reactivity assay, immune cell isolation techniques).

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA 10/2006 – 07/2009

Laboratory Technician, Laboratory of Steven D. Shapiro, Studied the role of Neutrophil Elastase-mediated degradation of Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 in proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma.

In vivo experience: administration of Adenoviral Cre for LSL-K-ras activation in mouse model, necropsy, and colony maintenance.

In vitro experience: gene silencing and overexpression using siRNA, lentiviral permanent knockdown and overexpression vector technology in cancer cell lines.

Molecular and biochemical experience: western blotting, PCR, qPCR, cloning, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy.

Mentored students and trained new technicians and fellows in laboratory techniques.

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA 06/2004 – 06/2006

Undergraduate Researcher, Laboratory of Janet E. Lee

Studied emphysema and cigarette smoke exposure in vivo and in vitro.

Operated mouse and cell culture cigarette smoke exposure equipment.

Learned various cellular and molecular biology techniques.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Pathology. University of Pittsburgh, Graduation: April 2016

Bachelor of Science, Major: Biology Minor: Chemistry University of Pittsburgh 2006

PUBLICATIONS

Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 Deficiency Drives a Pro-Inflammatory Phenotype in KRAS-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma. Heather E. Metz, Julia Kargl, Stephanie E. Busch, Kyoung-Hee Kim, Brenda F. Kurland, Shira R. Abberbock, Julie Randolph-Habecker, Sue E. Knoblaugh, Jay K. Kolls3, Morris F. White, and A. McGarry Houghton. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS). Aug 2;113(31):8795-800.

Flow cytometric analysis of immune cell composition in mouse lung tumor microenvironment. Stephanie E. Busch, Mark L. Hanke, Julia Kargl, Heather E. Metz, David MacPherson, and A. McGarry Houghton.. (In review: Journal of Immunology)

Neutrophils and Tregs Constrain Antigen Driven Immune Responses in NSCLC. Julia Kargl, Stephanie E. Busch, Grace HY. Yang, Kyoung-Hee Kim, Mark L. Hanke, Heather E. Metz, Jesse J. Hubbard, David K. Madtes, Martin W. McIntosh, and A. McGarry Houghton. (In review: Nature Immunology)

Neutrophil Elastase Promotes Myofibroblast Differentiation in Lung Fibrosis. Alyssa Gregory, Corrine Kliment, Heather Metz, Kyoung-Hee Kim, Julia Kargl, Brittani Agostini, Lauren Crum, Elizabeth Oczypok, Tim Oury, A. McGarry Houghton.Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2015 Aug;98(2):143-52.

Insulin receptor substrate regulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. Metz, H.E. and A. McGarry Houghton. Clinical Cancer Research. 2011 Jan:17(2):206-11.

Neutrophil elastase-mediated degradation of IRS-1 accelerates lung tumor growth.McGarry Houghton, Danuta M. Rzymkiewicz, Hongbin Ji, Alyssa D. Gregory, Eduardo E. Egea, Heather E. Metz, Donna B. Stolz, Stephanie R. Land, Luiz A. Marconcini, Corrine R. Kliment, Kimberly M. Jenkins, Keith A. Beaulieu, Majd Mouded, Stuart J. Frank, Kwok K. Wong, Steven D. Shapiro. Nature Medicine. 2010 Feb;16(2):219-23.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Heather E. Metz, Stephanie E. Busch, Mark L. Hanke, Julia Kargl, Kyoung-Hee Kim, A. McGarry Houghton Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 Regulates Immune Cell Content in Lung Adenocarcinoma

American Association for Cancer Research International Conference 2015, Pittsburgh, PA.

Heather E. Metz, Stephanie E. Busch, Mark L. Hanke, Julia Kargl, Kyoung-Hee Kim, A. McGarry Houghton Insulin receptor substrate-1 regulates immune cell content in lung adenocarcinoma

American Association for Cancer Research International Conference 2014, San Diego, CA.

Heather E. Metz, Alyssa D. Gregory, A. McGarry Houghton Insulin Receptor Substrates-1 and -2 Regulate Cancer Cell Proliferation ATS International Conference 2011, Denver, CO.

H. Metz, J.M. Pilewski, S.L. Friday, X.H. Liu, A.M. Choi, J.S. Lee Differential Expression of Chemokine Fractalkine/CX3CL1 and Angiogenic Factor CYR61 in In Vivo and In Vitro Models of Cigarette Smoke Exposure. American Thoracic Society International Conference 2006, San Diego, CA.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Figure Skating Coach (Seattle, WA and Pittsburgh, PA) 12/2000 – present

Coach children and adults basic and advanced figure skating. Certified USFS gold-level moves in the field, adult dance and adult freestyle.

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