Leading the downstream team within Fujifilm’s Process Characterisation Unit, I am responsible for delivery of our customers’ downstream process characterisation studies (chromatography, viral inactivation, viral filtration, depth filtration, ultrafiltration and diafiltration). Alongside execution of lab studies, our team works with colleagues in data science to interpret analytical results (eg. purity by HPLC, IEF, and residuals such as Host Cell Protein, DNA and endotoxin) and thus determine acceptable operating ranges for customers’ processes. Our work supports customers’ process validation activities and regulatory filings as their drug molecules progress from Phase III to commercialisation, so in addition to a focus on timely delivery, an acute awareness of regulatory and commercial considerations is also required. The role requires regular and ongoing interface with clients and internal stakeholders to ensure delivery against agreed financial milestones within a complex technical context.

As a lead scientist within the Downstream Process Development group, my role was to lead a small team of scientists in a program of downstream processing work as agreed with our customers and to co-ordinate with colleagues across a range of functions to deliver on customer programs. I have worked with a wide range of bioprocessing techniques (Chromatography, depth filtration, tangential flow filtration (TFF), viral inactivation) across a range of scales. I have also performed documentation technical reviews in preparation for GMP manufacture and provided in-asset technical support for GMP processing.

As part of an interdisciplinary method development team, I provided protein biochemistry and purification expertise to support the application and ongoing development of a novel proteomics-based platform for unbiased mode of action determination. My main responsibilities within the team were for native protein purification and ligand binding assays, working closely with colleagues in proteomics, biochemistry, statistics and chemistry. As many of our targets are integral membrane proteins, I also provided skills and expertise in solubilisation and isolation of native membrane proteins.

My research characterised a novel virulence factor of the healthcare-associated anaerobic pathogen Clostridium difficile, using a range of microbiology, protein chemistry and molecular biology techniques. I developed complex purification strategies for four novel recombinant proteins, performed gene knockouts in Clostridium difficile, cell fractionation, biotinylation, western blotting, ELISA and HPLC. I additionally determined the structure of the target enzyme using X-ray crystallography and developed fluorimetric and HPLC-based assays to determine its activity.

I used a competitive ELISA to assist in epitope mapping a panel of monoclonal antibodies raised to the fusion protein of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

I performed antimicrobial time-kill assays and preparation of gut samples as part of an industrially funded project to investigate the role of cationic antimicrobial peptides in the gut health of broiler chickens.