Brian Alejandro Email & Phone Number

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Mentor a dynamic team of 6+ technicians in lab procedures, ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols and fostering a culture of efficiency, excellence, collaboration, and continuous development.Accountable for overseeing all aspects of laboratory operations, managing project timelines, and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality experimental results and data analysis to meet yearly benchmarks for government-funded projects.Spearhead the establishment of a groundbreaking drug-resistant SARS-CoV-2 mutant study pipeline to validate target engagement between novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 helicase lead drug candidates and SARS-CoV-2 helicase by identifying potential resistance-conferring mutations via Next Generation Sequencing (Nanopore). Design and execute experiments to elucidate the mechanism of action of RNA mutagen EIDD-1931 against Chikungunya virus infection, contributing to the advancement of antiviral therapeutics.Provide comprehensive training to new laboratory members to establish proficiency in equipment handling, biosafety protocols, microbiology laboratory techniques, and data analysis.Revise and implement the Chung lab chemical hygiene plan, to maintain compliance with institutional and federal safety regulations and protocols.Manage Chung Lab hazardous chemical inventory and develop standard operating procedures in line with OSHA standards.

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Designed and executed comprehensive experiments to characterize the potent antiviral activity of the RNA mutagen, EIDD-1931, against Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) attenuated strains.Utilized Next Generation Sequencing, including Nanopore and PacBio, to precisely determine mutation frequencies within viral genomes resulting from treatment with EIDD-1931.Completed clearance and training to operate within a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) environment, demonstrating expertise in handling highly infectious agents.Developed highly efficient fluorescent protein reporter viruses for VEEV TC-83 and CHIKV 181_25 strains, enabling the evaluation of EIDD-1931 treatment impact on virus growth kinetics.Maintained accountability for junior lab members' performance and adherence to standard operating procedures

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Established a highly efficient virus infection pipeline by implementing automated liquid handling technology and microplate reading for the high-throughput isolation of individual, infectious, and drug-resistant VEEV TC-83 virus clonesApplied molecular biological techniques, including RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, and PCR amplification, to prepare VEEV TC-83 virus clones for DNA amplicon sequencingConducted Nanopore sequencing on DNA amplicons to identify resistance-conferring mutations within the genomes of candidate drug-resistant TC-83 virus clones and determine the frequency of mutations in each drug-resistant clone for targeted drugsCreated an advanced in vitro transwell co-culture with human choroid plexus epithelial cells (HIBCPP) and primary human brain vascular pericytes (HBVP) to establish a robust blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier modelInvestigated the transportability of Zika virus across the blood-brain barrier by quantitating Zika virus that crosses the HIBCPP monolayer in the presence or absence of HBVP cells.Demonstrated responsibility for maintaining lab organization, cleanliness, and reagent ordering, while ensuring meticulous recordkeeping for timely financial reconciliations

Louisville, Kentucky Area

Restructured and expanded company scientific literature database for past, present, and future clinical programsAuthored comprehensive white papers to provide critical support and scientific rationale for the advancement of future clinical programs, specifically for the lead drug candidate, Pegcetacoplan (APL-2)Worked cooperatively with third party clinical partners and collaborators to develop biochemical assays for assessment of drug efficacy and safetyCurated the guest list and coordinated logistics for the 1st annual complement symposium hosted by Apellis, creating a valuable platform for scientific exchange and networking among key stakeholders in the field

Worcester, Ma

Investigate Protein Kinase C driven signaling cascade involved in the regulation of dopamine transporter trafficking and dynamicsMaintain and expand mice colonies, and perform genotyping Oversee lab administrative responsibilities and daily maintenance

Barcelona Area, Spain

Used high-throughput sequencing technologies as a means to elucidate secondary structures of long, non-coding RNA molecules and examine how they evolve across related species. Performed experimental assays needed to obtain the RNA to be sequenced. (i.e. PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA/RNA quantification, in vitro transcription, RNA isolation, etc.)

I worked in Professor Darrell Irvine's laboratory under postdoctoral fellow Gregory Szeto on a project that studies the influence of a microfluidic system on B cell antigen presentation and homing for cell based vaccines General experience in designing and executing experiments as well as performing appropriate data analysisExtensive mammalian cell culture/mouse handling: mouse organ isolation, B cell/ T cell isolation, and sub-cutaneous injections Engineered antigen-presenting B cells using a microfluidics system to forcibly introduce antigens into B cells Analyzed cell surface receptor levels on engineered B cells and T cells using flow cytometry and FlowJo/Prism softwares

Optimized the fermentation process for the molecule astaxanthin to transition from bench to pilot scale production. Performed plasmid design, DNA purification, bacterial/yeast(Yarrowia lipolytica) culture, PCR, astaxanthin purification/quantification, fermentor operation/handling, and data analysis.

I worked in Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia's laboratory on a project focused on developing three dimensional hydrogel microtissues that could be used on a drug-screening platform to aid in an array of drug development platforms. Implemented and optimized 3D culture system of primary hepatocytes in conjunction with fibroblasts in order to increase cell viability. Performed drug assays on the 3D microtissues and quantified cell viability/cell death using flow cytometry.

Master Of Engineering (M.Eng.), Biomedical Engineering

S.B., Chemical-Biological Engineering

Activities and Societies: American Institute of Chemical Engineers