Biomedical Engineering, Cancer Research, Clinical Translational

Nerymar Ortiz Otero, Ph.D.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nerymar-ortiz-otero-phd-32899783/ – E: *******.*******@*****.*** – P: 787-***-****, 416E 120th Street, Unit 2A, New York NY 10035

PROFILE

Passionate, goal-oriented and innovative scientist with an extensive experience in the design, execution and interpretation of experimental strategies to improve and support the development of novel cell therapy and the discovery of diagnostic/therapeutic biomarkers for cancer applications. Robust experience in the development of and cell bioassays to downstream characterize the efficacy, safety and mechanism of action of novel therapeutic molecules (in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo setting). Proven capacity to work in a collaborative- and fast-paced environment to accomplish fast-moving deadlines. Excellent communication, teamwork, writing and mentorship skills (English and Spanish).

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Cornell University, Biomedical Engineering 2013-2019

Thesis: Analysis and Therapeutic Targeting of Circulating Cells in Metastatic Cancer

Advisor: Dr. Michael R. King

B.S. University of Puerto Rico, Industrial Biotechnology 2008-2013

Graduate Summa Cum Laude, Honors

SCIENTIFIC SKILLS AND PROCEDURES

Clinical blood samples: Robust experience handling and processing clinical patients’ samples, isolation of primary cells (PBMCs, T cells, neutrophils, tumor cells, fibroblast, platelets, plasma and red blood cells) using ficoll and polymorph, negative and positive selection kits, handling and processing tumor tissues

Mouse work: Injections (IP, SC and IV), blood collection via tail vein, bioluminescence imaging, tumor measurement, dissection and organ collection, isolation of immune cells (PDX and CDX murine models)

Protein: ELISA assay, measuring protein level in plasma and conditioned cell media, spectrophotometry

Molecular biology: PCR, DNA extraction, cell transfection,

Cell-based assays: cytotoxicity assay (dose responses), cell proliferation assay, ligand-binding assay, ex-vivo/in-vitro cell-based immunoassays, antibody-drug antibody assay, immunophenotyping, metabolism assays, cytokine/chemokine secretion profiling, cell-sorting, multi-parameter flow cytometry, hematological and coagulation assay

Microscopy: efficient technique to prepare cells and tissue samples, immunostaining of extra and intracellular molecule, deep knowledge using confocal microscopy (immunofluorescence assay)

Tissue culture: efficient cell culture technique (cell passaging, 2D and 3D culture-spheroid) using cell lines, primary cells, culture of human blood derived cells, stem cells

Computer skills: Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Word, Power Poing, GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, Image J software, EXCEL, electronic notebook

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Postdoc, Advisor: Dr. Michael R. King, Dr. Young Kim

Vanderbilt University- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Nashville TN Jan 2020- May 2020

Summary: Determined the level of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAFs) in head and neck cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment. Determined the strong correlation between CAFs and worst clinical outcome in head and neck cancer patients by using ex-vivo screening method and bioinformatics tools.

PhD degree, Advisor: Dr. Michael R. King

Cornell University- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Ithaca, NY 2013-2019

Summary: Determined the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAFs) release induced by surgical removal of primary tumor and chemotherapy treatment, respectively in ~100 localized and metastatic cancer patients. Investigated the function of CAFs as a novel biomarker to predict poor cancer prognosis, overall survival probability and new target for drug delivery. Developed and characterize a platelet- and immune-based therapy to target and kill CTCs in the bloodstream to prevent the formation of metastases. Determined the efficacy of immune- and platelet-based therapy by targeting and killing over CTCs in flowing blood from cancer patients

Research outcomes: Surgical approaches and chemotherapy induced CTC mobilization from the primary location into the bloodstream. CAF level as a novel cancer prognosis biomarker, due it strongly correlates with the worsen clinical outcome. Immune-based therapy killed over 70% of CTCs in flowing blood from localized and metastatic cancer patients using an ex vivo translational model. Platelet-based therapy killed over 60% of CTCs from metastatic cancer patients.

Leadership/teamwork roles: Developed a critical thinking to lead independently various research studies at the same time. Demonstrated excellent teamwork skills by establishing different collaborations including Vanderbilt Medical Center, Guthrie Clinical Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, and Cumberland Pharmaceuticals. Also, demonstrated role as laboratory manager by to maintaining an updated inventory, ordering and laboratory equipment maintenance to sustain a continuous working area

Management skills: Guided 6 students to advance in independent studies by providing research advice, reviewing research manuscripts, fellowship applications and oral presentations

Neuro-oncology Surgery Intern, Supervisor: Dr. Theodore Schwartz

Weill Cornell Medical College- New York, Neuro-oncology Department, New York, NY Summer 2014

Interpreted brain MRIs, analyzed hormone results, correlated patients’ symptoms, to deliver a diagnosis. I could interface with the significant benefit that we provided to clinical patients by our research findings and novel discoveries

Researcher Assistant, Advisor: Dr. Carlos Rios Velazquez 2010-2013

University of Puerto Rico- Mayaguez, Biology Department, Mayaguez, PR

Led research study developed a metagenomics library which consist in the transformation of cultivable Escherichia Coli with genomic material extracted from environmental samples

AWARDS

Dr. Frank Deane Passion for Science Award from Eli Lilly Company 2014

National Science Foundation Graduate Research 2014

Alfred P. Sloan Diversity Fellowship 2013

PUBLICATIONS

N. Ortiz-Otero, Z. Mohamed, and M. R. King, “Platelet-Based Drug Delivery for Cancer Applications,” in Biomechanics in Oncology, vol. 1092, C. Dong, N. Zahir, and K. Konstantopoulos, Eds. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2018, pp. 235–251.

N. Ortiz-Otero, A. B. Clinch, J. Hope, W. Wang, C. A. Reinhart-King, and M. R. King, “Cancer associated fibroblasts confer shear resistance to circulating tumor cells during prostate cancer metastatic progression,” Oncotarget, vol. 11, no. 12, pp. 1037–1050, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.27510.

N. Ortiz-Otero, J. R. Marshall, B. W. Lash, and M. R. King, “Platelet mediated TRAIL delivery for efficiently targeting circulating tumor cells,” Nanoscale Adv., p. 10.1039.D0NA00271B, 2020, doi: 10.1039/D0NA00271B.

N. Ortiz-Otero, J. R. Marshall, B. Lash, and M. R. King, “Chemotherapy-induced release of circulating-tumor cells into the bloodstream in collective migration units with cancer-associated fibroblasts in metastatic cancer patients,” BMC Cancer, vol. 20, no. 1, p. 873, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.1186/s12885-020-07376-1.

N. Ortiz-Otero, J. R. Marshall, A. Glenn, J. Matloubieh, J. Joseph, D. M. Sahasrabudhe, E. M. Messing, M. R. King, “TRAIL-coated Leukocytes to Kill Circulating Tumor Cells in the Flowing Blood from Prostate Cancer Patients”, BMC Cancer, submitted.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS IN SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

Ortiz Otero, N.; King, M.R. (2018, October). Platelet-Based Delivery of Apoptosis Ligand TRAIL to Target and Kill Tumor Cells in the Circulation. Talk presented at BMES 2018 Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA

Ortiz Otero, N.; Marshall, J.; Messing, E.M.; Sahasrabudhe, D.M.; King, M.R. (2018, October). TRAIL-coated Leukocytes to Neutralize Tumor Cells in Flowing Blood from Prostate Cancer Patients. Talk presented at BMES 2018 Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA

Ortiz Otero, N.; Marshall, J.; Messing, E.M.; Sahasrabudhe, D.M.; King, M.R. (2018, April). TRAIL-coated leukocytes to kill tumor cells in the blood of prostate cancer patients. Talk presented at Biomaterial Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA

Contact this candidate