DIRECTOR VICE PRESIDENT PROFESSOR GROUP LEADER

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Immunotherapy ~ Technical Training ~ Grant Writing

Project Management ~ Process Improvement ~ Quality Assurance and Control ~ Safety Compliance

Cross-functional Collaboration ~ Team Leadership

HEADLINE

Highly accomplished, goal-driven, and results-oriented professional, with broad-based experience in all aspects of research and development.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Research Scientist, Department of Pediatrics/Research, Division of Pediatrics, Feb 2007–Present

Provide expertise in the area of research chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified T-cell therapy of human leukemia lymphoma and other solid cancers

Manage correlative molecular assays studies for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) approved CAR modified adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT) pre-clinical research and clinical trials, including Digital Droplet PCR, real-time PCR, ligation-mediated PCR, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), karyotyping, Telomere assay, high-throughput digital gene expression, next generation sequencing, and immune response assay for further enhancement of T-cell therapy

Lead the correlative assay for Ziopharm, a biotech company since 2015 until today

Direct collaborations among several investigators to deal with collaborative non-funded and funded grants

Facilitate training and supervision to technicians, graduate students, fellows, and post-doctoral fellows

Demonstrate strong ability to write highly recognized peer reviewed manuscripts and federal and state grants, as well as to conduct analysis and resolve highly complex issues

Recent Notable Accomplishments:

Drove key efforts in spearheading and participating in different conferences and symposia, while rendering various presentations and writing several articles and abstracts, as well submitting patents including:

–Application of non-viral vector system for human gene therapy, Journal of Immunotherapy, 2013

–A novel digital TCR expression and diversity assay, 53rd Annual ASH Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA, December 10–13, 2011

–Foundation for “universal” T-cell based immunotherapy, Blood, 2012

–Non-viral CD19CAR-T phase I clinical trial to treat B-cell malignancies, J. Clin. Invest., 126(9), 3363–3376, 2016

–Characterization of ex vivo propagated Gd T cells with broad specificity for malignancies, 1st International Conference on Cancer Immunotherapy (ICIC) AACR Meeting, NY, USA, September 16–19, 2015

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer Biology, Mar 2003–Feb 2007

Handled areas of research which included (1) role of serum glycoprotein beta2GP1 in apoptotic cell recognition and engulfment and (2) role of proteolytically cleaved altered form of serum glycoprotein beta2GP1 in inhibition of endothelial cell function and angiogenesis

Earlier Positions Held:

Research Associate, Mar 1998–Mar 2003

Drove development of Murine Models using cre/lox genome engineering technology in murine Embryonic Stem (ES) cells for Human kidney Disease and cancer, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Department of Genetics

Postdoctoral Fellow/Researcher, Oct 1994–Mar 1998

Studied mechanisms that regulate Gene expression in development and cancer with Department of Immunology

Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC

Postdoctoral Fellow/Researcher, Breast Cancer, Sep 1993–Aug 1994

Plant Biotechnology Institute, National Research Council, Saskatoon, Canada

Research Assistant, Apr 1988–Aug 1988

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada

Teaching Assistant of Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Jan 1990–Apr 1990/Jan 1991–Apr 1991/Jan 1992–Apr 1992

Facilitated microbiology laboratory classes for veterinary undergraduates

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

Teaching Assistant of Genetics, Department of Biology, Jan 1987–Apr 1987/Sep 1987–Dec 1987/Jan 1988–Apr 1988

Conducted genetics laboratory class for the undergraduates

SELECTED SKILLS

Nucleic Acids: Isolation, and purification of cellular (bacteria, yeast, mammal) total DNA and RNAs including mRNAs, Isolation and purification of plasmid DNA, Standard DNA cloning and subcloning; Genomic and cDNA library preparation and screening; Yeast and mammalian two hybrid cloning; Construction of the recombinant plasmid vector for the generation of genetically engineered mouse; Transformation, transfection, transduction, and electroporation; Electrophoresis; Hybridization (Southern, Northern, and Oligonucleotide); RNase Protection Assay (RPA); PCR (including PCR-mediated cloning), XL-PCR, Reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR, Ligation-mediated (LM) PCR, Real-time PCR, and Digital Droplet PCR; in vitro transcription and translation, Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH); Telomere assay, Primer extension analysis; Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA); Site directed mutagenesis; High-throughput Digital (nanostring) Gene Expression; BioMark (Fluidigm) single cell gene expression; CRISPR technology; and Nucleotide sequencing including next generation sequencing (NGS).

Proteins: Heterologous recombinant protein expression and purification in bacteria and yeast; Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE); Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA); Western Blot; Immunofluorescence; Immunoprecipitation; and Zymography.

Cell Biology: Cell culture of human, bovine, mouse, and rat primary cells, [human primary T-cell culture and ex vivo expansion on artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPC], fibroblasts, HUVEC and HAEC, mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, bovine (BAEC) endothelial cells, rat Spermatogonial cells) and cell lines (such as immortalized and established tumor cells); Measurement of cellular proliferation assay by incorporation of tritiated thymidine, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) assay, and cell migration assay by Boyden chamber method; Measurement of cellular apoptosis and specific antigen expression on cell surface by FACS; phagocytosis assay of apoptotic cells by macrophages; and Immunofluorescence microscopy.

Mouse Work: Generated genetically engineered mouse model for a specific human disease by embryonic stem cell (ES) and Cre-Lox technology; Regularly maintained these mice in pathogen-free barrier facility, mated and genotyped these mice regularly for the study; Analyzed mice for gross anatomical abnormalities during development and embryogenesis; Collected organs, tissues, and histology, and done immunohistochemical and gene expression analysis; Collected, recorded, analyzed and maintained the data.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Theodore N. Law UCF Scientific Achievement Fellowship, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, Georgetown University

Vincent T. Lombardi Cancer Center Postdoctoral Fellowship, Georgetown University

Research Assistantship, GREMIP, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal

University of Montreal Graduate Scholarship and Research Assistantship

University of Saskatchewan Graduate Scholarship

Junior Research Fellowship, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India

National Scholarship, Government of India

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology, Apr 1993

University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada

Master of Science in Biology, Aug 1988

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

Master of Science in Microbiology, Jan 1982

University of Kalyani, Kalyani, WB, India

Bachelor of Science in Biology, Jan 1980

University of Kalyani, Kalyani, WB, India

ADDENDUM: [Grant Funding (Non-funded and funded), Presentations, Conferences, Articles, Abstracts, and Patents]

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