Martin Shea - Resume
Resume:
MARTIN J. SHEA, PH.D.
*** ****** ****** ****, # ***,
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878
QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE
Highly competent, innovative, and focused professional equipped with proven expertise in full spectrum of project management from development to implementation. Possess in-depth knowledge of numerous scientific systems and approaches, focusing on cell pathway modulation and function. Recognized as a dedicated senior scientist; adept at deploying diverse experimental methods and cutting-edge technologies to discover unique therapeutics. Utilize effective leadership and strategic thinking skills in providing direction to diverse group of individuals.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Avalon Pharmaceuticals * Germantown, MD
STAFF SCIENTIST
2001-2008
* Played a pivotal role in the development and inauguration of Avalon’s drug discovery platform, AvalonRx®
* Utilized effective leadership skills in spearheading multiple internal small molecule screening efforts
* Functioned as lead scientist and directed the successful implementation of RNAi induced gene knockdown technology to be used for the discovery of novel small molecules against chemically intractable, oncogenic targets
* Prepared and presented Avalon project plans, progress, and subsequent results to outside collaborators
* Proactively participated in in-depth data analysis of clinical samples and candidate hit treatments
Key Accomplishments:
* Co-invented patent filed for a colon cancer gene screening biomarker set used in the isolation of small molecule therapeutics
* Contributed in the creation of a patent for a unique method to isolate multiple oncogenic pathway therapeutics within a single small molecule screen
* Provided primary leadership to a team that isolated three promising small molecules targeting the survivin pathway, employing a qualified, RNAi-induced, knockdown gene signature
* Directed team that conducted extensive studies on cancer screen hits using multiple cell-based assays including cell cycle analysis, proliferation, annexin staining, SAR, key target protein level evaluation, and gain / loss of function studies
* Provided efficient performance as lead manager of the Novartis-Avalon partnership, and accomplished two landmark contractual goals delivering active compounds against a challenging oncogenic target
* Recognized as key contributor in the invention of two patents for cancer-specific cell surface antigens
* Grouped and prioritized candidate screening hits utilizing multiple bioinformatics tools to analyze microarray and qPCR data such as Genelinker Gold, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, and MOA classifiers
* Successfully managed associate scientists (direct reports) in Avalon’s Discovery Department
Baylor College of Medicine * Houston, TX * Laboratory of Dr. Allan Bradley
Roche Institute of Molecular Biology * Nutley, NJ * Laboratory of Dr. Andrew McMahon
POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW
1993-2000
* Completed isolation and functional testing of a putative Wnt / wingless receptor
* Enhanced knowledge of Wnt family roles in early murine CNS development
* Set up and utilized yeast two-hybrid system for detecting and isolating binding partners (i.e. receptors) to Wnt protein “baits”, and other cancer-related targets
* Implemented reverse genetics approaches in two developmental systems (M. musculus and D. melanogaster) to address function of a putative Wnt/wingless receptor, PP5
* Worked collaboratively with colleagues at Baylor in the understanding of mammalian telomere function
Key Accomplishments:
* Created, by homologous recombination in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, null PP5 cells that were subsequently tested in multiple murine backgrounds
* Conducted cloning of the Drosophila PP5 homologue by low stringency PCR, followed by P-element mediated translocation in the relevant chromosomal region, to create PP5 mutant Drosophila
* Initiated the analysis of numerous Wnt family transcripts in E5.5-E10.5 mouse embryos, using whole mount in situ hybridization techniques
* Successfully isolated multiple Wnt receptor candidates (i.e. PP5)
* Provided primary direction that led to isolation of BRCA1 interacting clones
* Illustrated mammalian telomere sequence-induced genetic instability by 30-fold
OTHER EXPERIENCE
INVITED LECTURER * Baylor College of Medicine * Houston, TX
TEACHING FELLOW * Harvard University * Cambridge, MA
RESEARCH ASSISTANT * State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook * Stony Brook, NY
EDUCATION
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BIOLOGY * Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology
Harvard University * Cambridge, MA
Thesis: Analysis of Putative Trans–Regulators of the Drosophila s15 chorion Gene
Laboratory of Dr. Fotis Kafatos
MASTER OF ARTS IN BIOLOGY * Harvard University * Cambridge, MA
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY * State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook * Stony Brook, NY
AWARDS AND HONORS
* Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship
* National Research Service Award, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Fellowship # 1 F32 HD07858-01
* Medical Genetics Research Fellowship Program Award, National Institute of Health, Fellowship # GM 07526
* New York State Regents Scholarship
PATENTS
* Young, P.E., Meade, J., Soppet, D., Horrigan, S., and Shea, M.J.
Chemo-Selective Identification of Therapeutics. USP # 60/819,962 * filed - July 11, 2006
* Shea, M.J. and Ebner, R.
Cancer-Linked Gene as Target for Chemotherapy. USP # 60/385,505 * filed - June 4, 2002
* Shea, M.J. and Ebner, R.
Cancer-Linked Gene as Target for Chemotherapy. USP # 60/384,367 * filed - May 30, 2002
* Ebner, R., Horrigan, S.K., Shea, M.J., Soppet, D., Weaver, Z., and Young, P.E.
Cancer Gene Determination and Therapeutic Screening Using a Characteristic Gene Set. USP # 10/109,268 * filed - March 28, 2002
PUBLICATIONS
* Kilburn, A.E., Shea, M.J., Sargent, R.G., and Wilson, J.H. (2001) Insertion of a Telomere Repeat Sequence Into a Mammalian Gene Causes Chromosome Instability. Molecular and Cellular Biology 21(1), 126-135
* Liu, P., Wakamiya, M., Shea, M.J., Albrecht, U., Behringer, R., and Bradley, A. (1999) Requirement for Wnt3 in Vertebrate Axis Formation. Nature Genetics 22, 361-365
* Barrio, R., Shea, M.J., Carulli, J., Lipkow, K., Gaul, U., Frommer, G., Schuh, R., Jackle, H., and Kafatos, F.C. (1996)
The Spalt-Related Gene of Drosophila Melanogaster is a Member of an Ancient Gene Family Defined by the Adjacent, Region-Specific Homeotic Gene Spalt. Development Genes and Evolution 206(5):315-325
* Mariani, B.D., Shea, M.J., Conboy, M.J., Conboy, I., King, D.L., and Kafatos, F.C. (1996) Analysis of Regulatory Elements of the Developmentally Controlled chorion s15 Promoter in Transgenic Drosophila. Developmental Biology 174, 115-124
* Takada, S., Stark, K.L., Shea, M.J., Vassileva, G., McMahon, J.A., and McMahon, A. (1994) Wnt-3a Regulates Somite and Tailbud Formation in the Mouse Embryo. Genes and Development 8, 174-189
* Parr, B., Shea, M.J., Vassileva, G., and McMahon, A. (1993) Mouse Wnt Genes Exhibit Discrete Domains of Expression in the Early Embryonic CNS and Limb Buds Development 119, 247-261
* Shea, M.J., King, D.L., Conboy, M.J., Mariani, B.D., and Kafatos, F.C. (1990)
Proteins That Bind to Drosophila chorion cis-regulatory elements: A new C2H2 zinc Finger Protein and a C2C2 Steroid Receptor-Like Component. Genes and Development 4, 1128-1140
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