Provide leadership for and management of Precigen R&D programs in the fields of vaccines, infectious diseases, and immuno-oncology.Continued Alliance Management for Fibrocell partnered clinical programs for RDEB (FCX-007) and Localized Scleroderma (FCX-013).

-Lead development and IND-enabling activities for the Fibrocell Localized Scleroderma program - FCX-013 Phase I/II clinical trial was granted allowance by the FDA in March 2018-Continued Associate Director Responsibilities for the Fibrocell Science RDEB program (FCX-007) and Agilis Biotherapeutics Friedreichs ataxia programs-Took responsibility for the direction of and alliance management for the S&I Ophthalmic joint venture wet AMD gene therapy program after management departure in Summer of 2016; lead program to its necessary termination-provided management support for Xogenix program in heart failure-lead team of 9 Senior Scientists, Scientists and Research Associates-Provide scientific expertise to support Business Development and new program planning as requested by the Chief Scientific Officer and the Chief Commercial Officer

•Direct the assay and product development activities for the Friedreich’s ataxia program in collaboration with Agilis Biotherapeutics•Program Leader for multi-disciplinary team responsible for filing IND for a Phase I/II clinical trial for the treatment of Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB) patients with a gene-modified autologous fibroblast (GM-HDF) therapeutic; program is in collaboration with Fibrocell Science•Currently directing the product development, pre-clinical, and CMC activities for a GM-HDF therapeutic for the treatment of Localized Scleroderma in support of the Fibrocell Science collaboration

•Provide team leadership, scientific expertise, and project management (including timelines and budgets) for numerous ongoing Research programs, including Exclusive Channel Partnership programs with Synthetic Biologics, Inc., Fibrocell Science, Inc., Agilis Biotherapeutics, LLC, and S&I Ophthalmics. •Alliance Management for the company’s Exclusive Channel Partnership with Synthetic Biologics•Generate Project Charters, identify risks, and ensure execution of deliverables and milestones forResearch programs by coordinating the activities of multidisciplinary teams.•Provide and execute presentations/progress updates to Executive Management and Channel Partners.•Write new program proposals as directed by the Office of the Chief Scientific Officer and other groups.

•Pre-clinical evaluation of potential gene therapeutics for Orphan and metabolic, and pulmonary disease indications.•Evaluation of non-viral gene delivery techniques, including chemical enhancers and electroporation.•Design and oversee execution of small and large animal disease models.•Assay development in support of pre-clinical studies.•Supervise Research Associates/Biologists in support of pre-clinical studies.

Process Development:•Use virology, cell culture, and molecular biology expertise to further develop, optimize a fully-scalable production method for recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV) using recombinant herpes simplex virus (rHSV) co-infection. This system reduced rHSV requirements by 60%, doubled volumetric productivity, and reduced overall production times.•Design and execute experiments for troubleshooting and for new projects as they arise.•Supervise and train technicians.•Generation of and adherence to project timelines necessary to achieve company goals.Assay Development and Qualification:•Developed, qualified, and/or optimized infectivity assays for rAAV and rHSV. •Developed and qualified a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the detection of residual cellular DNA in purified rAAV preparations. •Development and qualified a qPCR assay for detection of the presence of rAAV DNA in blood samples from clinical trial patients.Project Management:•Responsible for assay transfer to collaborators and Contract Testing Organizations.•Oversee manufacturing of GMP cell and virus banks by Contract Manufacturing Organizations, including review of batch records.•Coordinate and oversee testing of GMP cell and virus banks and Clinical trial material by Contract Testing Organizations.Regulatory:•Writing of Standard Operating Procedures, Study protocols and reports, and Technical reports. •Participate in preparation of CMC section for IND filings.The above described responsibilities were essential toward the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial for alpha-one antitrypsin deficiency (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT01054339).

Department of Microbiology, Laboratory of Nigel Fraser.Research areas:-Replication-competent HSV-1 vectors for cancer therapy (received NRSA for this work)-Stability of the HSV-1 latency-associated transcript intron