Molecular Biologist

SUHEETA ROY

*** ******* *********, *******, ** **610

Phone: 510-***-**** (M)/ 510-***-**** (H) / Email: *******@*******.***

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CAREER PROFILE

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Molecular biologist with 10 years of academic research experience, specializing in metabolic disease biology in rodent models.

Extensive experience in working with in vivo animal models and in vitro cell systems, utilizing a broad array of molecular, biochemical and immunochemical techniques for ex vivo plasma, hepatic and biliary lipid assays. Proficient in small animal surgery and biological sample collection. Expertise in high-throughput microarray gene expression, metabolomic profiling, protein analysis techniques, and statistical analysis and interpretation of experimental data.

EDUCATION

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University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. Ph.D. Nutritional Science (2001)

Thesis: Gender and Hormonal Status Modulate Hypolipidemic Mechanisms of Dietary Soluble Fiber in the Guinea Pig

University of Calcutta, India. MSc Zoology (1996)

Presidency College, University of Calcutta, India. BSc (Honors) Zoology (1994)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

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Veterans Health Research Institute (NCIRE), July 2007- present

VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA.

Research Specialist Associate, Metabolism Division.

• Studying the genetics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), an independent risk factor for primary hepatocellular carcinoma, and also plays an important role in Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

• Lead researcher for the project characterizing inbred mouse models using high throughput systems biology and biochemical enzymatic assays to define differential genetic susceptibility to metabolic disease.

• Took initiative in developing and executing the project, coordinating with collaborators and successfully dealt with technical hurdles to ensure timely progress and completion of the project.

• Data analysis and interpretation, record keeping and documenting experimental data.

Research Skills

• Lipid, cholesterol, obesity, liver, and metabolic disease research using inbred mice as animal models.

• Biochemical and immunochemical techniques for ex vivo plasma, hepatic and biliary lipid analysis.

• Microarray gene expression profiling data analysis/interpretation.

• Metabolomics data analysis/interpretation.

• RNA isolation, molecular cloning and sub-cloning procedures, PCR, RT-PCR.

• Protein analysis techniques: ELISA, Western Blotting.

• Statistical analysis of experimental data, using GraphPad and SigmaPlot.

• Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.

University of California, Berkeley, CA. Sep 2003 – June 2005

Postdoctoral Researcher, Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology.

• Characterization, regulation and evaluation of molecular function of desnutrin, a novel adipocyte protein, utilizing mouse models as well as in vitro mammalian cell culture.

• Development of molecular tools for continued investigation in the field of lipolysis.

• Mentoring and supervision of undergraduate and graduate students in the lab.

Research Skills

• Lipid, obesity, liver and adipose tissue research using inbred mice as animal models

• Mammalian cell culture techniques using Cos-7, 3T3-L1 and 293FT cells, overexpression of genes using lentiviral system, suppression of genes using siRNA interference.

• Confocal microscopy.

• RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and probe preparation, Northern Blot analysis, molecular cloning and sub-cloning procedures, PCR, RT-PCR.

• Microarray sample preparation, hybridization, scanning and data analysis/interpretation.

• ELISA, Western Blotting.

• Statistical analysis of experimental data.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. July 2001 – August 2003

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center.

• Pathophysiological role of leptin during the development of diet-induced obesity in mice

• Response of hepatic cholesterol metabolism to dietary fat at the onset of obesity, using mouse models of obesity.

Research Skills

• Lipid, cholesterol, obesity, liver and metabolic disease research using inbred mice as animal models, including mice gall bladder cannulation for bile acid collection (small animal surgery).

• Biochemical and immunochemical techniques for ex vivo plasma, hepatic and biliary lipid analysis.

• Lipoprotein isolation and characterization, secretion and turnover of lipoproteins and lipoprotein changes in the intravascular compartment, measurement of fractional catabolic rate of dual-radiolabeled HDL from plasma, LCAT, CETP, PLTP and lipase assays.

• Hepatic lipid extraction and analysis, hepatic microsome isolation, measurement of hepatic enzyme activities using thin layer chromatography-based radioactive assays.

• Measurement of intestinal cholesterol absorption using radioactive assay.

• RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and probe preparation, Ribonuclease protection assay, molecular cloning and sub-cloning procedures, PCR, Real-time qPCR.

• ELISA, Radioimmunoassay, Western blotting, HPLC.

• Statistical Analysis of experimental data.

University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. June 1998 – May 2001

Research Assistant, Lipid Metabolism Laboratory.

• Examined factors affecting the secondary mechanisms by which dietary soluble fiber lowers plasma LDL cholesterol, using guinea pigs as animal models of cholesterol metabolism.

• Responsible for the development and standardization of several enzyme activity assays, including radioactive assays and quantitative evaluation of early atherosclerosis.

Research Skills

• Lipid, cholesterol, liver and metabolic disease research using guinea pigs as animal models of cholesterol metabolism.

• Biochemical and immunochemical techniques for plasma, hepatic and biliary lipid analysis, lipoprotein isolation and characterization.

• Lipoprotein isolation and characterization, secretion and turnover of lipoproteins and lipoprotein changes in the intravascular compartment, determination of low density lipoprotein (LDL) susceptibility to oxidation, measurement of LDL α-tocopherol concentrations by HPLC.

• RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and probe preparation, Northern Blot analysis, molecular cloning and sub-cloning procedures, PCR.

• Enzymatic assays: Hepatic lipid extraction and analysis, hepatic microsome isolation, measurement of hepatic enzyme activities using thin layer chromatography-based radioactive assays.

REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

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JOURNAL ARTICLES

• Roy S, Lear SR, Sen S and Erickson SK (2012) Evidence for differential genetic susceptibility to metabolic disease: Phenotyping, gene expression and metabolomic profiling of C57BL/6J and 129S1/SvIm mice. (Manuscript in review)

• Roy S, Lear SR, Sen S and Erickson SK (2012) Impact of genetic background on metabolic disease progression: Effect of long-term high fat diet feeding on C57BL/6J and 129S1/SvIm mice. (Manuscript in preparation)

• Erickson SK, Lear SR, Roy S, Kakar S, Bull LN and Sen S (2012) Genetics of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Identification of chromosomal regions linked to hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. (Manuscript in preparation)

• Turner SM, Roy S, Sul HS, Neese RA, Murphy EJ, Samandi W, Roohk DJ and Hellerstein MK (2007) Dissociation between Adipose Tissue Fluxes and Lipogenic Gene Expression in ob/ob mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 292(4): E1101-9.

• Villena JA, Roy S, Sarkadi-Nagy E, Kim KH and Sul HS (2004). Desnutrin, a new Patatin like Adipocyte Protein, is induced by Fasting and Glucocorticoids and Increases Triglyceride Hydrolysis. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279: 470**-*****.

• Roy S, Hyogo H, Yadav SK, Jelicks LA, Locker JD, Frank P, Wu M, Lisanti MP, Silver DL and Cohen DE (2005). A Biphasic Response of Hepatobiliary Cholesterol Metabolism to Dietary Fat at the Onset of Obesity. Hepatology, 41: 887-895.

• Hyogo H, Roy S, Cohen DE (2003). Restoration of Gallstone Susceptibility by Leptin in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. Journal of Lipid Research, 44(6): 1232-1240.

• Hyogo H, Roy S, Paigen B, Cohen DE. (2002) Leptin promotes biliary cholesterol elimination during weight loss in ob/ob mice by regulating the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 277 (37): 341**-*****.

• Roy S, Freake HC and Fernandez ML. (2002) Regulation of Hepatic Cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase Activity and mRNA Abundance by Gender, Hormonal Status and Dietary Soluble Fiber in the Guinea Pig. Atherosclerosis, 163: 29-37.

• Roy S, Vega-Lopez S and Fernandez ML. (2000) Gender and Hormonal Status Affect the Hypolipidemic Mechanisms of Dietary Soluble Fiber in Guinea Pigs. Journal of Nutrition, 130: 600-607.

• West KL, Ramjiganesh T, Roy S, Keller BT, Fernandez ML. (2002) 1-[4-[4[(4R,5R)-3,3- Dibutyl-7-(dimethylamino)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-1,1-dioxido-1-benzothiepin-5-yl]phenoxy]bytyl]-4-aza-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane Methanesulfonate (SC-435), an Ileal, Apical, Sodium-Codependent Bile Acid Transporter Inhibitor Alters Hepatic Cholesterol Metabolism and Lowers Plasma LDL-Cholesterol Concentrations in Guinea Pigs. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 303: 293-299.

• Herron KL, Vega-Lopez S, Conde K, Ramjiganesh T, Roy S, Shachter NS, Fernandez ML. (2002) Pre-Menopausal Women, Classified as Hypo- or Hyper-responders, do not Alter their LDL/HDL Ratio Following a High Dietary Cholesterol Challenge. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 21: 250-258.

• Ramjiganesh T, Roy S, Freake HC, McIntyre JC, Fernandez ML. (2002) Corn fiber oil lowers plasma cholesterol by altering hepatic cholesterol metabolism and up-regulating LDL receptors in guinea pigs. Journal of Nutrition, 132:335-340.

• Cos EB, Roy S, Ramjiganesh T, Yoganathan S, Nicolosi RJ, Fernandez ML. (2001) Soluble Fiber and Soybean Protein reduce Athersclerotic Lesions in Guinea Pigs. Sex and Hormonal Status determine Lesion Extension. Lipids, 36: 1209-1216.

• Fernandez ML, West KL, Roy S, Ramjiganesh T. (2001) Dietary Fat Saturation and Gender/Hormonal Status Modulate Plasma Lipids and Lipoprotein Composition. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 12: 703-710.

• Ramjiganesh T, Roy S, McIntyre JC and Fernandez ML. (2001) The Hypercholesterolaemic Effects of Sitostanol in the Guinea Pig are in part related to Changes in Hepatic Lipids and Lipoprotein Composition. British Journal of Nutrition, 85 (2): 165-172.

• Ramjiganesh T, Roy S, Nicolosi RJ, Young TL, McIntyre JC and Fernandez ML. (2000) Corn Husk Oil Lowers Plasma LDL Cholesterol Concentrations by decreasing Cholesterol Absorption and altering Hepatic Cholesterol Metabolism in Guinea Pigs. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 11: 358-366.

• Fernandez ML, Roy S and Vergara-Jiminez M. (2000) Resistant Starch and Cholestyramine have Distinct Effects on Hepatic Cholesterol Metabolism in Guinea Pigs fed a Hypercholesterolemic Diet. Nutrition Research, 20(6): 837-849.

• Conde K, Roy S, Freake HC, Newton RS and Fernandez ML. (1999) Atorvastatin and Simvastatin have Distinct Effects on Hydroxy Methylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Activity and mRNA Abundance in the Guinea Pig. Lipids, 34: 1327-1332.

BOOK CHAPTER

• Roy S, Cohen DE. (2004) Biphasic response of hepatobiliary cholesterol metabolism to leptin at the onset of diet-induced obesity. In: Gallstones: Pathogenesis and Theory, eds. G Alder, HE Blum, M Fuchs, EF Stange. Kluwer, Dordecht 2004: 64-68.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

• Roy S, Lear SR, Sen S and Erickson SK. Impact of Genetic Background on Susceptibility to Metabolic Disease: Gene Expression and Metabolomic Profiling of C57Bl/6J and 129S1/SvIm mice. UCSF Liver Center Annual Symposium, San Francisco, March 2011.

• Roy S, Sarkadi-Nagy E, Villena JA and Sul HS. Desnutrin is a novel Triglyceride Lipase. Experimental Biology (ASBMB), San Diego, CA, April 2005.

• Roy S, Silver DL, Yadav SK and Cohen DE. Mechanisms of Hypercholesterolemia due to Accumulation of Large High Density Lipoproteins during Diet-Induced Obesity in C57BL/6J Mice. Digestive Diseases Week, Orlando, FL, May 2003.

• Roy S, Hyogo H and Cohen DE. Diet-induced Resistance to Leptin Action leads to Increased Hepatic Cholesterol Biosynthesis in C57BL/6J Mice. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), Boston, MA, November 2002.

• Roy S, Hyogo H and Cohen DE. Diet-induced Leptin Resistance Impairs Reverse Cholesterol transport in C57BL/6J Mice. Digestive Diseases Week, San Francisco, CA, May 2002.

• Roy S, Freake HC and Fernandez ML. Gender and Hormonal Status affect the Hypolipidemic Mechanisms of Dietary Soluble Fiber in Guinea Pigs. Experimental Biology (ASNS), Orlando, FL, April 2001.

• Roy S, Freake HC and Fernandez ML. Dietary Soluble Fiber lowers Plasma LDL Cholesterol by Modulating Hepatic Cholesterol 7-Alpha Hydroxylase. Experimental Biology (ASNS), San Diego, CA, April 2000.

• Roy S, Vega-Lopez S, Ramjiganesh T and Fernandez ML. Gender Responses to Hypercholesterolemic Diets in Guinea Pigs. Experimental Biology (ASNS), Washington D.C., April 1999.

AWARDS

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• Irwin M. Arias Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for 2003, American Liver Foundation.

• Hamilton D. Eaton Graduate Fellowship in Nutrition for the academic year 1999-2000, University of Connecticut.

• University Predoctoral Fellowship, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1998.

• Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, Department of Nutritional Science, University of Connecticut, 2001.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

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• Reviewer, Journal of Nutrition 2001-2007.

• Member, American Society for Nutritional Sciences 1999-2001.

• Member, American Heart Association 2002-2005.

• Member, New York Academy of Sciences 2002-2004.

• Member, Association of Women in Science, 2007-2010.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

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US Permanent Resident

Indian Citizen

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