Experienced and Published Clinical Researcher

NIKU NOURMOHAMMADI

949-***-**** ***************@*****.***

Education

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY- WASHINGTON, DC May’21

MS - Anatomical and Translational Sciences

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY- LOS ANGELES- May ’18

BS Biological Sciences with Honors

Scientific/ Professional Research Experience

Children’s National Hospital (CNH) Washington, D.C.

Clinical Research Coordinator Dr. Javad Nazarian (PhD)

October 2023-February 2024

●Organizing and maintaining files and computer databases containing participant information and test results

●Performing preliminary analysis of data using statistical analysis software and Excel

●Coordinating postmortem donations to help find cures for neurological cancers, primarily Diffuse Midline Glioma or Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. This entails working with physicians, hospice teams, funeral homes, medical staff, locating a nearby pathologist, and World Courier.

●Assisting in publications to provide new information in the field of neurology oncology.

●Working with collaborators who support the DMG-Act, aiding and providing research tissue and data for their clinical trials.

●Coordinating monthly sample shipments and data collection to Children's Brain Tumor Network at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

●Consenting families and potential donors to collect samples or generously donate to find a cure for brain cancer following IRB protocols.

●Organizing staff members to work On-call for postmortem brain donations.

●Working with physicians and the hospice team, the Hospital coordinates hospice team postmortem donations and sample collection for internal clinical studies.

●Updating protocols and Standard Operating Procedures for all procedures in postmortem coordination and liquid sample processing.

●Reorganizing biobank of research tissue to help lead scientists, physicians, and staff to help find a cure for undiagnosed diseases, neurological cancers, and Diffuse Midline Glioma and Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma.

●Working with Zurich, Switzerland, to develop an updated Tissue Microarray project.

●Updating families with new information found from collaborator scientists.

●collaboratively worked with Clinical Trials Operations and Biostatistics (CTOBB) staff, Principal Investigators (PIs), Clinical Coordinators, Government Project Officers (GPOs) and Institute Contracting Officers

●Reviewed, evaluated, and analyzed clinical trial data and study information

●Formulate guiding principles and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and prepare staff for clinical research

National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Bethesda, M.D.

Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) clinical researcher Dr. Inati (MD), Hamidullah Thiam

July 2022- September 2023

●Coordinating research, working alongside a distinguished Clinical Research Coordinator, and Providing the standard of care to patients from various locations around the world with seizures looking for a change in their antiepileptic medication plan

●Authorizing and organizing medical records questionnaires for patients wanting to be seizure-free, providing transportation visas to patients needing care free of charge, shadowing neurosurgeries, working on a clinical research project with clinical fellow Dr. Bijal Patel, and joining epilepsy rounds alongside Dr. Sara Inati, Aaliyah Hamidullah Thiam, Dr. Sarah Grewal, Dr. William Theodore, and Dr. Shareena Rahman.

●Organizing and maintaining files and computer databases containing participant information and test results

●Performing preliminary analysis on data using statistical analysis software

●Worked with neuropsychologists to conduct clinical and research neuropsychological testing of medically ill and healthy research patients

●Document schedule-related matters, including patients appointments

●Studied video EEG and MRI reports and medical reports to help the epilepsy team and neuropsychologists adjust medication and treatment plans for patients

National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Bethesda, M.D.

Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) clinical researcher – Dr. Nath (MD) August 2021-Sept 2022

●Studied the impact of COVID-19 on the brain, conducted research for a clinical drug trial, and helped discover a treatment plan for COVID-19 patients with elevated predisposed neurological symptoms from inherited neurological disorders

●Performed experiments to test for COVID-19 in patients: RNA isolation, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and quantitative PCR (QPCR).

●Seeded, cultured, and cryopreserved induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)

●Differentiated iPSCs to neuroepithelial neurons and then to autonomous motor neurons, analyzed and grew stem cells from edited versus mutated genes and studied their spontaneous electrical activity and field electrophysiology through Axion Maestro biosystem machines

●Studied undiagnosed neuroimmune diseases in the field of neurology and immunology.

The George Washington University Medical School Washington, D.C.

Cancer Research Assistant - Dr. Keidar (PhD) June 2018- September 2020

●Studied the universality of cell-based H2O2 generation through its interaction with cancer cells and cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment in plasma medicine.

●Published: Universality of micromolar-level cell-based hydrogen peroxide generation during direct cold atmospheric plasma treatment, Cold plasma-based control of the activation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells

●Awarded: continuing grant by the National Science Foundation

●Performing preliminary analysis on data using statistical analysis software

California State University, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA

Research Assistant, Dr. Aguilar September 2016- June 2018

●Dr. Aguilar's biology research lab focuses on molecular genetics, genomics, computational, and field principles. The main emphasis is on the evolution and conservation of California's native freshwater ichthyofauna and evolutionary genomic studies of diverse groups of marine fishes (rockfish) and endangered vernal pool crustaceans, amphibians, and sea birds.

● Conservation and evolutionary genetics research laboratory experimented with DNA evolutionary traits, finding ways to preserve almost extinct marine fish. Experienced: I use a multi-pipette, PCR, sequence, and genomic tools such as BLAST to analyze data, write scientifically, and purify proteins and DNA.

●Performing preliminary analysis on data using statistical analysis software

Industry

Absolute Consulting Engineers Newport Beach, California

Business Management Associate and Product Manager August 2020- August 31, 2021

Managed accounts, products, and sales for Absolute Consulting Engineers. Ensured projects are on time and within budget.

Leadership

ASI Student Government Washington, D.C.

Environmental Policy Commissioner, California State University, Los Angeles August 2016- June 2018

Involved with the student government to create a greener and safer environment.

American Red Cross CSULA Club Los Angeles, CA

President September 2017- June 2018

Guided 30 members of a new club at CSULA to practice and exemplify humanitarian values through mission-related service projects such as blood drives, food drives, and fundraisers. Formed many guest speaker events on campus where doctors from USC and UCLA spoke about their journey into medicine and provided advice to other pre-med students.

American Red Cross CSULA club Los Angeles, CA

Public Relations Director and Cofounder September 2017- June 2018

Assisted form and promoted a new American Red Cross CSULA club as the Public Relations Director to provide an

organization that held blood and food drives for those in need and CPR-certified training. Provided students with MCAT

preparation workshops, motivational and inspiring lectures from medical students and doctors, resume-building workshops, and interview workshops.

Chicanos/Latinos for Community in Medicine (CCM CSULA) Club Los Angeles, CA

Board Member September 2017- June 2018

Assisted in creating a supporting community for the academic endeavors of minorities in medicine at CSULA. Assisted in forming multiple science health events to inspire and motivate many students interested in a career in medicine and research. Organized multiple guest speaker events and gathered medical students to speak about their experience in medicine and medical research. Assisted in forming multiple clothing donation drives, food drives, pre-health/pre-med CVs, and resume workshops.

Clinical Shadowing and volunteering 2/5 selected

Children’s National of Northern Virginia Washington, D.C.

November 2020- February 2021

Shadowed Dr. Debra Reiger to diagnose and provide treatment plans for babies with rare diseases during the pandemic.

GW Medical Faculty Associates Washington, D.C.

July 2020

Observed Dr. Nagy in the cardiology clinic and Dr. Simons in the ER. I witnessed the fast pace and efficiency in a local DC area. More local people rely on these facilities than hospitals to get care quickly. Dr. Nagy and Dr. Simons recommended working with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency within the US Health and Human Services, to support its quality measurement and reporting programs. Due to the pandemic, I could not volunteer, but I continued to stay present in my community through Crisis counseling, virtual volunteering, and being a helper for blind people (Be My Eyes).

Community Service

Crisis Text Line Washington, D.C.

Volunteer August 2020- August 2022

(During Covid) Assisting people before the crisis. Preventing people from committing suicide, call the police, and develop new coping skills.

Be My Eyes virtual

Helper for the Blind June 2020- present

Assisted blind people through video chat with their daily tasks.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Nation (ACS CAN) Washington, D.C.

Legislative Ambassador July 2020- January 2021 Assisted in increasing cancer research funding, advocated to fund programs that provide lifesaving screenings and treatments and helped ensure everyone has access to quality affordable health care—supported smoke-free laws, higher tobacco taxes, and smoking cessation policies. I helped build relationships with local, state, and federal lawmakers. I represented ACS

CAN in my community raised funds to support its work, integrating advocacy into ACS. Recruit another volunteer while building my team.

Chemistry and Biochemistry CSULA Club Los Angeles, CA

Mentor to elementary students September 2014- June 2018

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Club took me to inner-city schools, where I mentored students interested in science by demonstrating basic chemistry experiments.

Publications

Caroline A Kopsidas, Denise Morinigo, Niku Nourmohammadi, Augustine Eze, Roy Debasish, Miriam Bornhorst, Sridevi Yadavilli, Roger Packer, Javad Nazarian, OTHR-17. FACILITATING THE POSTMORTEM DONATION OF WHOLE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CANCERS, Neuro-Oncology, Volume 26, Issue Supplement_4, June 2024, Page 0, https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noae064.688

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Nicole Lyons, Javad Nazarian, Augustine Eze, Niku Nourmohammadi, Mateusz Koptyra, Adam Resnick, Jane Minturn, Beth Frenkel, Sonora Reingruber, Angela Wanders, Miriam Bornhorst, Melissa Williams, Michelle Monje-Deisseroth, Jared Hysinger, Ann-Helen Liljensten, Mark Souweidane, Jeffrey Greenfield, Cindy Campbell, Christopher Padilla, Amy Smith, Sydney Peck, Nick Vitanza, Sarah Leary, Jeff Stevens, DEI-06. IMPROVING ACCESS TO POST-MORTEM BRAIN TUMOR TISSUE DONATION BEYOND THE INPATIENT HOSPITAL SETTING, Neuro-Oncology, Volume 26, Issue Supplement_4, June 2024, Page 0, https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noae064.153

Nicole Lyons, Javad Nazarian, Augustine Eze, Niku Nourmohammadi, Mateusz Koptyra, Adam Resnick, Jane Minturn, Beth Frenkel, Sonora Reingruber, Angela Waanders, Miriam Bornhorst, Melissa Williams, Michelle Monje-Deisseroth, Jared Hysinger, Ann-Helen Liljensten, Mark Souweidane, Jeffrey Greenfield, Cindy Campbell, Christopher Padilla, Amy Smith, Sydney Peck, Nick Vitanza, Sarah Leary, Jeff Stevens, OTHR-28. SUCCESS AND IMPACT IN 5 YEARS OF POST-MORTEM BRAIN TUMOR TISSUE PROGRAM: GIFT FROM A CHILD, Neuro-Oncology, Volume 26, Issue Supplement_4, June 2024, Page 0, https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noae064.698

Erez N, Furth N, Fedyuk V, Wadden J, Aittaleb R, Schwark K, Niculcea M, Miclea M, Mody R, Franson A, Eze A, Nourmohammadi N, Nazarian J, Venneti S, Koschmann C, Shema E. Single-molecule systems for detection and monitoring of plasma circulating nucleosomes and oncoproteins in Diffuse Midline Glioma. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Nov 21:2023.11.21.568019. doi: 10.1101/2023.11.21.568019. PMID: 38045418; PMCID: PMC10690213.

Yan D, Lin L, Xu W, Nourmohammadi N, Sherman JH, & Keidara M. 2018. Universality of micromolar-level cell-based hydrogen peroxide generation during direct cold atmospheric plasma treatment. Plasma Medicine, 8(4): 335-343. DOI: 10.1615/PlasmaMed.201-***-****

Project with Dr. Keidar and Dr. Yan at George Washington University. This study demonstrated the universality of cell-based H2O2 generation through its interaction with cancer cells and cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment in plasma medicine.

Yan D, Lin L, Xu W, Nourmohammadi N, Sherman JH, & Keidara M. 2019. Cold plasma-based control of the activation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Plasma Medicine, 52(44). DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/ab36d4

Project with Dr. Keidar and Dr. Yan at George Washington University. This study analyzed CAP-treated pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and their sensitivity toward the cytotoxicity of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

CSULA Early Entrance Program Club website November 2014

Article: “The Gift of Hard Work”

Thesis: Genetic Structure of Paracottus knerii June 2018

In 2018, a project correlating two years of research conducted by Niku in Dr. Aguilar’s conservation research lab was published.

SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Computer: Microsoft 365, Adobe, Excel, Word, Statistics

CPR certified 12/17/2021

Laboratory: multi pipette, culture cells, seeding cells, counting cancer cells, PCR, qPCR, RT-PCR, sequencing, using genomic tools such as BLAST to analyze data, scientific writing skills, purification recombinant-protein, MTT assay, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment, Mass Spectrometry, Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), native gel, RNAi and CRISPR assays with a deep understanding of genomics; Stem cell (iPScs) edited, unedited, and mutated research with Axio Maestro, Immunoprecipitation, protein expression, purification and characterization, Protein Quantification (Bradford), Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibody Purification, Labeling,

and Functional Measurements, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Co-IP and immunoblotting, Cellular

transfections/transductions and CRISPR/Cas mutagenesis, Cloning and Subcloning, Vector construction, amplification,

purification, DNA and RNA isolation and analysis, Genomic and cDNA libraries construction/screening and analysis, bioanalyzer, Gene & Transcriptomic analysis, Clinical Sample

Processing, CBTN Data entry, Postmortem donation processing

LANGUAGES

Fluent in Farsi and English (reading & writing)

HONORS, SOCIETAND AWARDS

Dean’s List: 2014-2, 2016-17, 2017-2018

Golden Eagle Award of Excellence (CSULA) - 2018

Leadership Award of Excellence (CSULA) - 2018

Pre-Medical Honors Society (CSULA) - 2014-2018

The Honors College (CSULA) – 2018

Recipient of Presidential Medal to Dr. Anthony S. Fauci

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