Project Development
Resume:
YUNUS SHUKUR ABDUL
GERMANTOWN, MD 20874
Mobile: 301-***-****
Evening Phone: 301-***-****
Email: ***********@*******.***
Country of citizenship: United States of America
Veterans' Preference: No
Contact Current Employer: Contact me first
AVAILABILITY Job Type: Permanent
Work Schedule: Full Time
Desired Work Environment Graduate
Post-graduate
New Professional
Mid-Career Professional
Experienced Professionals
Telework
WORK EXPERIENCE FUNCTIONAL GENETICS INC 8/2007 - 6/2010
GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND US
Salary: 115000 USD Per Year
Hours per week: 50
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
Duties & Accomplishments at Functional Genetics Inc (2007-2010)
Served as "PROJECT TEAM LEADER" for "two" US Federal Government DTRA "BIODEFENSE RESEARCH ANTIVIRAL THERAPEUTIC DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS": Hands on Experience Leading Drug Discovery & Development through IND filing with FDA, as the final deliverable to DTRA.
o HDTRA1-07-C-0080, a $13 Million DTRA (TMTI) Contract-2007-2010 (Host-Oriented Broad-spectrum Small Molecule Inhibitors for Bio-threat Viruses) aka FGI-103 Program
o HDTRA1-06-C-0035, a $28 Million DTRA Contract 2007-Q1 2011 (Generation of Novel Broad Spectrum Anti-Viral Compounds against Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses that block virus budding by disrupting interaction of Tsg101 with virus late domains) aka FGI-102 program
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
(1) Successful Scientific Direction of high-complexity Project to achieve project deliverable/SOW- a IND/pre-IND filing with FDA under very compressed time ( ~3 year) & tight budget constraints.
(2) Successfully Managed Progress Reporting to DTRA sponsors: Drafted Formal 'Technical' Quarterly/ Annual/ Closing Reports, PP presentations & f2f meetings over 3 years
(3) Applied Project Management Principles to meet deadline, assuring quality/completion within budget.
Performed & Achieved in the following SPECIFIC AREAS:
1. Lead Molecular Virology Translational Research Teams:
(1) Lead Antiviral Evaluation in Animal Models: Ebola, Marburg, Influenza, RSV, Lassa, Dengue, RVFV, HSV, HCV, HBV.
(2) Built Collaborative Research with USAMRIID/ MRC-UK (Porton Down), academic/CRO labs (SCRIPPS, KSU, Cornell, UVA, SDSU, & multiple CRO)
(3) in-house Antiviral Drug/Biologics Discovery projects: Small Molecule/Antibody; Identifying Cell-Surface-Markers & Host Genes facilitating virus infection as target for developing Biologics/Antivirals; all MOA/Drug Resistance/Synergy studies; in-silico screening & X-ray crystallography of drug-target
2. Lead Cross-Functional Multidisciplinary Antiviral Drug Development Team: through Critical-Path to IND filing in 3 years; Worked in matrix environment involving multiple offsite R&D teams of Medicinal Chemists; GLP/GMP compliance; ADMET, pK/pD teams, Formulation, FDA-Regulatory consultants & SME.
3. Business Development:
(1) Lead OUT-LICENSING Technical Due-Diligence for Antivirals-Therapeutic-leading to ‘term-sheet’ stage negotiation with Big Pharma
(2) Drafted data files & liaised with Patent attorneys to file patents;
(3) Drafted Confidentiality agreement/MTA/CRADA/ sub-contract SOW for collaborative research
(4) Successfully negotiated pricing, FTEs for technical projects (Medchem & Crystallography)
4. Grants, Review & Publications:
(1) Participated in Several Successful NIH Research Grants (up to $1-3 Million budget)
(2) Reviewer in NIAID SBIR-BIODEFENSE Grants-Evaluation Panel(3) Published (& presented) in International-Journals, Scientific/ Board Meetings.
5. Supervised DIRECT Reports: 2 MS & 3-MD/PhD reports
PANACOS PHARMACEUTICALS INC 8/2001 - 7/2007
GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND US
Salary: 85000 USD Per Year
Hours per week: ~50
SENIOR SCIENTIST I, II, through PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST
Duties and Accomplishments at Panacos Pharmaceuticals (2001-2007):
1. Hands on experience in RESPIRATORY VIRUSES- Virus Entry Molecular Mechanisms & Entry Inhibitor Therapeutics
(1) Managed Mol. Virology & Mol. Biology Lab operations for 6 years. Established & Lead Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Fusion-Inhibitor Drug Discovery Program: Screened small-molecules & natural products.Established secondary and tertiary antiviral assay
(2) Developed High-throughput Assay: Generated RSV-Six-Helix Bundle- fusion core immunogen from synthetic gene. Generated & Characterized Antibody targeting RSV Fusion Core; discovered a trigger for RSV Fusion protein; Established prototype HT RSV ‘fusion-inhibitor’ screening assay;
(3) Successfully helped secure NIAID SBIR Phase-I & II funding for $143,045/- and $749,684/ respectively.
2. Hands on experience in HIV Drug Discovery:
(1) HIV1 Maturation Inhibitor Program: Developed a HT maturation Inhibitor Assay: identified 2nd Generation ‘novel small molecule’ compounds that act in a manner similar to lead compound ‘PA-457’. Established Drug-Screening Algorithm to characterize primary ‘hits’ against all PA-457 resistance conferring mutations
(2) HIV1 Fusion Inhibitor Program for discovering small molecules blocking virus-cell fusion. Established novel HIV-1 Fusion inhibitor Assay [Generated fusogenic RF-1 envelope-chimera (NL4.3) and Luciferase reporter expressing NL4.3 HIV-1 molecular clone (for: drug resistance selection, virus-entry & drug screening assay)]. MOA Studies: mapped drug-target site to HIV1-Env-gp41 junction that conferred ~1000-fold resistance. Comparative evaluation of fusion inhibitor DR panel: Enfuvirtide, BMS-806 and IC-9564
3. Supported HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS of ‘PA457’ (HIV maturation Inhibitor) in healthy and HIV1 infected patients:
(1) Performed all FDA requested virology experiments [Genotyping Patient HIV isolates; studies with azide-crosslinker/radiolabeled PA-457 for target pull-down; drug resistance (DR) selection, provirus generation & characterization]. Established Novel GAG phenotyping assay for Phase III clinical trials (CRO use).
(2) Expanded PA-457 indication: generated & characterized 36 mutants in PA-457 sensitive HIV1-SP6 site to cover all HIV1 subtypes/viruses in Los-Alamos HIV1 database. Generated HIV1 ‘Protease inhibitor’ DR panel. Transferred HIV1 CA-SP1 to FIV to develop Feline Model. Supported IND filing for a analog of PA-457
4. Business Development:
(1) Liaised with Virology opinion leaders, business analysts, regulatory consultants, reviewed FDA files & Laboratory Antiviral Evaluation to shape LICENSING/AQUISITION decision (Viropharma molecule VP-14637 & Stanford University' HCV target).
(2) Drafted Appendices to include RSV Fusion core-antibody to Panacos Patent & out-licensing to Tibotec.
5. Publications: 2 Peer Reviewed Publications + 5 oral/poster presentations.
6. Supervised Direct Reports: up to 3 BS/MS reports
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND 8/2000 - 8/2001
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND US
Salary: 32000 USD Per Year
Hours per week: 50
POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Duties and Research Accomplishment as Post-Doc @ University of Maryland: Molecular Virology of RESPIRATORY VIRUSES / NEGATIVE SENSE-RNA VIRUSES:
1. Recombinant Live Attenuated Viral Vaccine: Generated a recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) molecular clone expressing Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) protective antigen (this recombinant virus demonstrated good immunogenicity in Chickens in challenge studies and afforded protection against viral challenge IBD & NDV).
2. Initiated Reverse Genetics of Avian Pneumovirus (APV): Established Gene order of APV, Virus culturing and Molecular cloning strategy. Mentored and Trained Graduate Students in Pneumovirus Cell-culturing, Reverse Genetics, Molecular Virology Techniques; lead weekly journal club. These efforts eventually lead to successful generation of infectious APV from cloned cDNA in Samal Lab.
3. Publications as Post-Doc: 3 Peer Reviewed Publications.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND 8/1994 - 8/2000
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND US
Salary: 130**-***** USD Per Year
Hours per week: 50
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Duties and Research Accomplishment as Graduate Research Assistant @ University of Maryland: Molecular Virology of RESPIRATORY VIRUS /NEGATIVE SENSE RNA VIRUS:
1. Established a REVERSE GENETICS system for the first time in Dr. Siba K. Samal’s lab (Professor & Associate Dean, University of Maryland):
(1) Determined the entire genome sequence of Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV).
(2) Established ‘Minivirus-particle’ RNA transfection Rescue System to study the role of cis-acting viral RNA sequences (promoters) in viral genome replication, transcription and packaging into virus particles.
(3) Established ‘Minigenome’- DNA/Plasmid Transfection System: Demonstrated that the minimal viral-replicase-transcriptase complex proteins comprised of viral N, P, L and M2-1 proteins; this system was used to map interaction domains and effect of mutation in individual proteins (Nucleocapsid, Phosphoprotein, Polymerase & Transcription Elongation factor) on the function of viral-replicase complex.
(4) Generated ‘Infectious Recombinant BRSV from cloned cDNA’ enabling genetic engineering of live attenuated recombinant viral vaccines. BRSV Reverse Genetics system and funding experience served as primer for reverse genetic systems for New Castle Disease Virus-strains Lasota & Beaudette and Avian Pneumovirus in Dr. Samal’s Lab.
2. Publications & Grants:
(1) 9 peer reviewed publications,
(2) 5 Oral/Poster presentations and
(3) Technical Drafts of several successfully Funded Reverse Genetics Research Grants from USDA.
3. Mentoring:
(1) Mentored Visiting Scientists in Molecular Virology Techniques (3 peer reviewed publications).
(2) Mentored Junior Graduate Students (2 peer review publications).
4. Lead Journal Club: Conducted Weekly Journal Club Meeting during the last 2 years to discuss cutting-edge Molecular Virology Research developments in Reverse Genetics, Recombinant Vaccines, Virus Virulence and Pathogenesis in Animal Models.
STATE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 8/1993 - 8/1994
GAURIBIDANUR-BANGALORE, KARNATAKA India
Hours per week: 40
VETERINARY OFFICER
Duties and Accomplishment as Veterinary Officer
1. Indian Government Public Service 1993-1994, Bangalore, India. Management & Administration of Ambulatory Veterinary Hospital. Small & Large Animal Veterinary Practice (Including Poultry): 30-50 cases everyday; 5 days a week- on 5 different routes; 1 day in Base Hospital replenishing supplies and drafting administrative reports.
2. Implemented Rinderpest Eradication Vaccination Program: Rinderpest is a notifiable devastating infectious disease of Cattle in India. Under resource constraints (limited vaccine supplies, personnel, and budget)- conducted a vaccine campaign via mobilizing public support in each village/individual farmers for using live-attenuated freeze dried vaccine; prioritized endemic areas for vaccination and successfully vaccinated more than 25,000 heads of Cattle, Sheep & Goats in Gauribidanur Taluk.
3. Veterinary Extension Services: Extension & Outreach Services in Animal Husbandry/Livestock Management; Facilitating Loans to Farmers for Small Scale Poultry/Livestock Farms. Liaised with Agricultural Scientists, Banks, Feed Manufacturers, to provide support for Feed and Fodder Cultivation in Gauribidanur Taluk.
4. 1 Direct Report.
EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND US
Doctorate - 8/2000
44 Semester Hours
Major: MOLECULAR VIROLOGY
GPA: 3.615 out of 4
Honors: cum laude
Relevant Coursework, Licensures and Certifications:
COURSE WORK: Graduate Level Courses in NUCLEIC ACIDS, MOLECULAR GENETICS, ADVANCED IMMUNOLOGY, EUKARYOTIC MOLECULAR GENETICS, ADVANCED CELL BIOLOGY, VIROLOGY+TISSUE CULTURE, VETERINARY VIROLOGY, ADVANCED GENETICS OF ANIMAL VIRUSES, ADVANCED REVERSE GENETICS, BIOSTATISTICS, SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN ANIMAL SCIENCES & DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
HEBBAL, BANGALORE, KARNATAKA India
Master's Degree - 8/1994
76 Semester Hours
Major: MICROBIOLOGY
GPA: 3.81 out of 4
Honors: magna cum laude
Relevant Coursework, Licensures and Certifications:
CERTIFICATE: MASTER OF VETERINARY MEDICINE/SCIENCE (US Equivalent)
COURSE WORK: GENERAL BACTERIOLOGY, GENERAL PATHOLOGY, BASIC BIOCHEMISTRY, MICROSCOPY, MICROBIOLOGY OF MILK, ELECTRON MICROSCOPY, GENERAL STATISTICAL METHODS, DESIGN & ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTS IN ANIMAL SCIENCES, TECHNIQUES IN VETERINARY BACTERIOLOGY, DETERMINATIVE BACTERIOLOGY, ADVANCED VETERINARY BACTERIOLOGY-II, IMMUNOLOGY & SEROLOGY,GENERAL VIROLOGY, TECHNIQUES IN VIROLOGY, ADVANCED VETERINARY VIROLOGY, MEDICO-LEGAL PATHOLOGY, SEMINAR-I, II, III, RESEARCH-I,II,III, THESIS.
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
HEBBAL, BANGALORE, KARNATAKA India
Professional - 11/1992
158 Semester Hours
Major: VETERINARY MEDICINE
GPA: 3.73 out of 4
Honors: summa cum laude
Relevant Coursework, Licensures and Certifications:
DVM Degree
LICENSE TO PRACTICE VETERINARY MEDICINE
COURSES WORK: in VETERINARY-ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, PATHOLOGY, PHARMACOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, NUTRITION, PARASITOLOGY, ANIMAL GENETIC & BREEDING, POULTRY SCIENCE, GYNAECOLOGY, MEDICINE, SURGERY, CLINICAL PRACTICE, LIVESTOCK FARMING, GENERAL SCIENCES, HOSPITAL INTERNSHIP.
JOB RELATED TRAINING Liquent eCTD- Investigational New Drug Submission Training- 2009.
Project Management Institute Certification Preparation Training- 2010.
Biologics Drug Development: Manufacturing, Non-Clinical & Clinical Regulatory Requirements-2010
LANGUAGES Arabic
Spoken: None
Written: None
Read: Intermediate
Hindi
Spoken: Advanced
Written: Advanced
Read: Advanced
Kannada
Spoken: Intermediate
Written: None
Read: None
Malayalam
Spoken: Novice
Written: None
Read: None
Tamil
Spoken: Intermediate
Written: None
Read: None
Urdu
Spoken: Advanced
Written: None
Read: None
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS
2000: Reverse Genetics of Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV) (Ph.D. Theses): University of Maryland
1994: Immune response studies in bovines against Combined Leptospira–Pasteurella vaccine (M.S. Theses): University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
1. Yunus etal, (2010). Elevated temperature triggers Human RSV F protein Six-helix bundle formation. Virology 396 (2): 226-237.
2. Warren TK, Warfield KL, Wells J, Enterlein S, Smith M, Ruthel G, Yunus AS, Kinch MS, Goldblatt M, Bavari S (2010). Antiviral activity of a small molecule inhibitor of Filovirus infection. AAC 54(5):2152-9.
3. Smith DR, Ogg M, Garrison A, Yunus AS, Honko A, Johnson J, Olinger G, Hensly LE, Kinch MS (2010). Development of FGI-106 as a broad spectrum therapeutic with activity against members of the family Bunyaviridae. Virus Adaptation & Treatment: 2, 9-20.
4. Aman MJ, Kinch MS, Warfield K, Warren T, Yunus AS, Enterlein S, Stavale E, Wang P, Chang S, Tang Q, Porter K, Goldblatt M, Bavari S (2009). Development of a Broad Spectrum Antiviral against Ebola Virus. Antiviral Res.2009; 83(3): 245-51.
5. Kinch MS, Yunus AS et al., (2009). FGI-104: a broad-spectrum small molecule inhibitor of viral infection. Am J Transl Res 1:87-98.
6. Li WB ...Yunus etal, (2009). Identification of PTCH1 requirement for influenza virus using random homozygous gene perturbation. Am J Transl Res 1(3):259-266.
7. Li F.. Yunus et al.,(2006). Determinants of activity of HIV-1 maturation inhibitor PA-457. Virology. 2006 Dec 5-20; 356 (1-2): 217-24.
8. John RK, Samal SK, Yunus AS (2005). Generation of a minigenome with non-coding sequences of Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus. Indian Journal of Biotechnology. Volume 4, No. 3, July 2005, 378.
9. Govindarajan D, Yunus AS, Samal SK (2004). Complete sequence of G glycoprotein gene of avian pneumovirus subgroup C and identification of a divergent domain in the predicted protein. J of Gen Virol, Dec; 85(Pt 12): 3671-3675.
10. Huang Z, Elankumaran S, Yunus AS and Samal SK (2004). A recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) expressing VP2 protein of Infectious Bursal Disease (IBDV) protects against NDV and IBDV. J. Virol 78, 100**-*****.
11. Khattar SK, Yunus etal, (2001). Deletion and substitution analysis defines regions and residues within the P-protein of BRSV that affect transcription, RNA replication, and interaction with the N protein. Virology. 285(2): 253-269.
12. Khattar SK, Yunus AS etal, (2001). Mapping the domains on the P-protein of BRSV required for N-P and P-L interactions using a minigenome system. J Gen Virol. 82(Pt 4): 775-779.
13. Yunus etal, (2003). Deduced amino acid sequence of the small hydrophobic protein of US avian pneumovirus has greater identity with that of human MPV than those of non-US APV. Virus Res 93 (2003) 91-97.
14. Cristina J, Yunus etal, (2001) BRSV can induce apoptosis in MDBK cultured cells. Vet Microbiol. 83(4): 317-20.
15. Yunus etal, (2001). Rescue of infectious BRSV from cloned cDNA: Entire genome sequence of BRSV A51908 strain. Virus Genes. 23, 157-164.
16. Garcia L, Costo M, Yunus et al.,(2000). First serological evidence of BRSV infection in Uruguay. Vet Res. 31(2): 241-6.
17. Khattar SK, Yunus etal, (2000). Mutational analysis of BRSV N-protein using a minigenome system: Mutations that affect Encapsidation, RNA Synthesis, and Interaction with the P-protein. Virology. 270 (1): 215-228.
18. Yunus et al., (1999) Rescue of a BRSV genomic RNA analog by bovine, ovine and human RSVes confirms the “functional integrity” and “cross-recognition” of BRSV cis- acting elements by HRSV and ORSV. Arch Virol, 144(10):1977-1990.
19. Cristina J, Yunus etal, (1998). Analysis of G and P genes of ungulate RSV using a RNAse A mismatch cleavage method. Vet Microbiol. 1998 Jul; 62 (3): 185-192.
20. Yunus etal (1998). Seq analysis of a functional pol (L) gene of BRSV: determination of min trans-acting requirements for RNA replication. J Gen Virol 79, 2231-2238.
SELECTED (5/15) ORAL/POSTER ABSTRACTS:
1. Yunus et al.,(2008): Host Offense: Validation of FGI-103 As A Broad-Spectrum Therapeutic Modality for Targeting Filovirus Infection. 4th Int meeting on Filoviruses, Libreville, Gabon, March 26-28.
2. Yunus etal, (2008): Broad-Spectrum Therapeutic Modality for Targeting Viral Infection. ICAR, Montreal, Canada, April 13-17
3 Yunus etal, (2003). Identification of fusion-active conformation of HRSV F protein on the surface of RSV infected cells. RSV Sym, Nov 8-11, Stone Mountain, Georgia.
4 Yunus etal (2000). Genetic engineering of viruses and virus vectors for use as vaccines: NDV and BRSV model. I Ann Biosci. Res Rev Day, Nov 13,UMD.
5 Yunus etal. (1999). BRSV: Sequences of 3’ leader and 5’ trailer regions, rescue of a minireplicon by bovine, human and ovine RSV. 18th ASV, Amherst, Mass. Abs# W24-9.
6. Yunus etal. (1997). Rescue of BRSV minigenome. VMRCVM, 9th An Res Sym, May 12-15, VMRCVM, Blacksburg, VA.
REFERENCES Dr. CARL T. WILD PANACOS PHARMA CSO
Phone Number: 301-***-****
Email Address: *****@***.***
Reference Type: Professional
Dr. MICHAEL GOLDBLATT FUNCTIONAL GENETICS INC CEO
Phone Number: 240-***-****
Email Address: **********@**********-********.***
Reference Type: Professional
Dr. FENG LI South Dakota State Univ ASSOC PROFESSOR
Phone Number: 605-***-****
Email Address: ****.**@*******.***
Reference Type: Personal
Dr. PETER L. COLLINS NIAID, NIH CHIEF, RNA VIRUSES SECTION, LID
Phone Number: 301-***-****
Email Address: ********@*****.***.***
Reference Type: Professional
Dr. SIBA K. SAMAL VMRCVM, UNIV OF MARYLAND PROFESSOR & ASSOCIATE DEAN
Phone Number: 301-***-****
Email Address: ******@***.***
Reference Type: Professional
DR. KARL SALZWEDEL DIVISION OF AIDS, NIH PROGRAM OFFICER.
Phone Number: 301-***-****
Email Address: ***********@*****.***.***
Reference Type: Professional
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AWARDS & HONORS
2005: Greencard Approved in two categories as ‘Outstanding Researcher & In-National Interests’ of United States.
1998: Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Graduate Student Award for Exemplary Graduate Research in Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA May 21, 1998.
1994-2000: Travel grants to present papers from American Society of Virology, USA
1994-2000: Graduate Research Assistantship from University of Maryland, USA, 1994-2000
1994: Pfizer Veterinary Award: Pfizer Veterinary Medallion & Scroll of Honor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India.
1992: First rank in India in Indian Council of Agricultural Research junior fellowship examination in Veterinary Microbiology & awarded Junior Research Fellowship, 1992-1994.
1992: Ranked first (1992) in State Veterinary Recruitment Service Merit list based on panel interview. India.
1991: 6 Gold Medals during DVM study.
• University of Agricultural Sciences Gold Medal for “Distinction & First Rank”.
• Two-Gold Medal for General Merit in Veterinary Medicine (The Lion’s International Dist. 304-S2 & Sri. R. Gundu Rao / Dr. F.M. Khan).
• Gold Medal in Veterinary Microbiology.
• Gold Medal in Veterinary Pathology.
• Gold Medal in Veterinary Public health.
1987-1991: Merit Scholarship during DVM study; Government of India.
GRANTS-REVIEW COMMITTEE
2010: Study Section #ZAI1 (NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, USA. Special Emphasis Panel): in $2-$5 million BIODEFENSE Academia-Industry partnership grants to develop antiviral therapeutics against NIH Special Emphasis Viral Pathogens. Program Officer: Dr. Frank De Silva, NIH (********@*****.***.***)
RESEARCH GRANTS (SBIR)
FUNDED: as Group Leader/Co-PI/Team Participation
1. Discovery of Critical Host Genes Enabling Resistance to HIV-1 infection as the Therapeutic Target. In the Phase I work; Robo-1 was discovered as a Cell surface marker in HIV1 infected cells and after 2nd resubmission, my group was awarded a 3 year-SBIR Phase II NIH grant for $3 million for preclinical development of anti-Robo1 antibody therapeutic against HIV1 infection (July 2010).
2. NEDD4 as a broad spectrum therapeutic target for Influenza infection. My group serendipitously discovered the target; provided preliminary data and reviewed grant draft. The biologics group was awarded a 3 year-SBIR Phase II grant for $4 million, for developing anti-NEDD monoclonal antibody against Influenza infection (July 2010).
3. Small molecule Fusion Inhibitors of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. $749,684. SBIR Phase II grant from NIH funded in 2004. Based on supporting data ‘that identified a novel temperature based triggering technique for inducing conformation change in RSV fusion protein. Published in Yunus et al., 2003, 2007, 2010.
4. Small molecule Fusion inhibitors of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. $143,045. SBIR Phase I NIH grant funded in 2002.
5. BRSV fusion protein fragment as a subunit vaccine along with a mucosal adjuvant. Funded for $40,000/- by the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station in 2000. Designed, cloned and expressed the F immunogen. (Co-PI).
6. Rescue of infectious BRSV from cloned cDNA: potential for vaccine development and basic studies. Funded for $180,000/- in 1997 by USDA. Published in Yunus et al., 1998 & 2001 papers. (Technical Draft for PI: Dr. Siba.K. Samal).
7. Identification of Cis-acting Elements involved in Replication and Transcription of BRSV. Funded for $128,000/- from USDA in 1995. Published in Yunus et al., 1999. (Technical Draft for PI: Dr. Siba.K. Samal)
PENDING GRANTS: PI/Group-Leader
Both grants received encouraging comments in the first review cycle (Fall-2009) and were planned to be resubmitted with additional wet-experiments in the Fall 2010 cycle (now a FGI decision).
• 1R43AI089365-01: Structure Based Drug Design of Small Molecule Inhibitor of HIV-1 budding. Phase I-Advanced Technology SBIR (~$500K x 2 yr). Additional data: A 2.5 oA crystal structure of Tsg101 UEV domain was resolved identifying target binding site to enable Molecular Modeling and Structure Based Design.
• 1R43AI091106-01: MOA, target identification studies and exploratory SAR of broad-spectrum small molecule antivirals of RSV & HPIV3 viruses. Phase-I Advanced Technology SBIR ($500k/y x 2 yrs). Additional data includes DR selection; RSV assembly under Lipid rafts; & Synthesis of a biotin-azide tagged molecule for target pull-down. Research supported by Ricerca Biosciences and Johns Hopkins EM core.
• Withdrawn Grants (due to Big Pharma Licensing Interest): PI/Group-Leader: 1RC1AI087290-01 & 1RC1AI086893-01. Two-Economic Stimulus Package Grants (2009) Withdrawn by FGI owing to Licensing Interest from Big Pharma.
SEARCH/PhD. COMMITTEES (ACADEMIC / INDUSTRY)
2010: Nominated to International Review Committee for Doctoral Dissertation by the Dept of Industrial Biotechnology; Dr. MGR Educational & Research University (under auspices of University Grants Commission; Government of India). Chennai-600095, India. Email: ********.****@*******.**.**
2007-2010 Functional Genetics Inc. Solicited, Organized and Conducted >7 interviews.
2001-2007 Panacos Pharma. 10-12 interviews (Junior & Management level)
MENTORING
Duties & Accomplishments:
10 Year Industry Experience. Responsible for 5 MD/PhDs/MS scientists at FGI and 3-MS level scientists at Panacos Inc. Direct Reports:
2007-2010: Hanwen Mao, MD, Ph.D. Scientist III (FGI)
2007-2010: Hanson Chen, MD, Ph.D. Research Scientist II (FGI)
2008-2010: Chacko Chakiath, MS. Research Scientist III (FGI)
2007-2010: Shaojing Chang, MS, MD. Research Scientist III (FGI)
2008-2009: Guang Wen Zhang, MD, Ph.D. Research Scientist II (FGI)
2007-2009: Qingsong Tang, MS. Scientist I (FGI)
2001-2007: Dorian Zoumplis, MS, MBA, Research Scientist III (Panacos): Mentored MS/MBA study.
2004-2007: Matthew Zuiderhof, BS, MBA, Research Scientist II (Panacos)
2005-2007: Claudia Matallana, MS, Research Scientist II (Panacos)
Trained in Molecular Virology/Reverse Genetics:
1998-1999: Dr. Riji K. John PhD. Visiting Assistant Professor (India)- 1 publication.
1995-2000: Dr. Juan Cristina PhD. Visiting Scientist (Uruguay)- 2 publications.
1995-2001: Multiple Graduate Students.
• Trained and guided laboratory research (Molecular Virology/Biology) to attain annual corporate goals; optimized work output by teaming based on complementary skills, mutual trust and personality compatibility; encouraged -initiative / leadership/ creative thinking to solve project problems; encouraged learning new skills; review data for lab meetings, publications, posters, SBIR grants & diligence reports.
• Conducted Annual Performance Reviews over the last 10 years; provided counseling, professional growth opportunities including attendance in professional meetings, supported master’s degree program, incentive training and effectively resolved inter-personal conflicts. My reports earned timely promotions at both Panacos and Functional Genetics. Following the buy-out of Panacos, successfully helped place my reports at other jobs that suited their career goals.
PATENTS & INVENTIONS
2010: Analogs of FGI-63 & FGI-100 & X-ray Co-crystal of FGI-100 Analog with Tsg101 UEV protein (Patent documents Submitted)
2009: Protease Inhibitors and Broad Spectrum Antivirals- US Patent Application #12/644,402 (reference # FUNC-0052-UT1); filed December 22, 2009.
REMAINING POSTER/CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
1. Schwab M, Grassinger F, Folly C, Larsen JH, Yunus etal, (2010). Genetic Chemistry Platform applied to Identification of Antiviral Compounds. Poster #B240- Session B2, Advances in Assay Technology. Soc for Bio-molecular Sci 16th Ann Conf & Exhib; Phoenix, Arizona. April 11-15.
2. Yunus et al, (2009). Identification of FGI-103, a Small-molecule Antiviral with Broad-Spectrum Application to Multiple, Lethal Virus Types. #189, Antiviral Res 82, A1-A83.
3. Yunus et al, (2007). Evaluation of potential triggers of RSV F Protein Conformational Change using 6HB-Specific Antibodies. ICAR-2007, April 29-May 3. Palm Springs, USA.
4. Finnegan C, Nitz T, Yunus A et al, (2007). Discovery of a Novel Class of Orally Bioavailable Small Molecule HIV-1 Fusion Inhibitors. 4th Intl AIDS Society Conf on Pathogenesis, Treatment, & Prevention, July, Sydney, Australia.
5. Finnegan C, Burimski I, Jackson T, Castillo A, Kilgore N, Reddick M, Yunus A etal, (2006). Validation of a Novel Approach for HIV-1 Fusion Inhibitor Drug Discovery. XVI Intl AIDS Conf, Aug 13-18, Toronto, Canada.
6. Kilgore N, Reddick M, Zuiderhof M, Li F, Abdul Y etal, (2006). The first-in-class maturation inhibitor, PA457, is a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 Drug-Resistant isolates and acts synergistically with approved HIV drugs in-vitro. CROI 2006 Feb 5-8;13: abstract no. 509.
7. Castillo A, Adamson C, Doto J, Yunus A, Wild C, Martin D, Allaway G, Freed E, Salzwedel K (2006). Genotypic analysis of the Gag CA-SP1 Cleavage Site in Patients Receiving PA457. XV Intl HIV Drug Resist Workshop, June 13-17, 2006. Stiges, Spain.
8. Yunus AS & Samal SK. (2000). Genetic engineering of viruses and virus vectors for use as vaccines: NDV and BRSV model. I Ann Biosci Research Rev Day, Nov 13, 2000. UMD.
9. Khattar SK, Yunus AS et al, (1999). Identification of domains of BRSV N-protein required for binding to P-protein and genomic RNA. XI th International Congress of Virology, August 9-13. Sydney, Australia.
10. Samal SK & Yunus AS. (1996). Novel molecular biologic approach to development of live attenuated BRSV vaccine. Symposium on advancement in immunodiagnosis and control of emerging diseases of livestock. Nov 8-10, Bhubaneshwar, India.
ANTICIPATED FUTURE PUBLICATIONS:
1. Yunus AS et al.,A Potent Small Molecule Virus Assembly Inhibitor of RSV & HPIV3 infection.
2. Yunus AS et al., A Small Molecule Inhibitor of HIV-1 & Ebolavirus 'budding' that blocks interaction of viral late domain with UEV-domain of Tsg101.
Contact this candidate