David Steger Email & Phone Number

Leader of a research team within a hybrid academic lab/start-up company of 200+ individuals striving to cure heritable disease with recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) harboring therapeutic transgenes. Aimed to improve the durability of therapeutic transgene expression, with an end goal of sustained expression over a patient’s lifetime.• Designed and developed programmable DNA processing of rAAV genomes in vivo:• Engineered human DNA sequences to replace field’s reliance on viral gene promoters susceptible to chromatin-mediated transcriptional silencing• Recruited and mentored team members for individual and group success• Interacted with sponsors to update progress, promise and challenges

Principal investigator of a research laboratory that aimed to understand the transcriptional and epigenomic circuitry regulating adipose tissue formation and function, which normally benefits health, yet in excess as in obesity, is a risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and a plethora of increasingly common metabolic diseases. • Set scientific direction and led funding, recruiting and mentoring responsibilities• Awarded multiple NIH R01 research grants ($1.5-2.5 million/grant distributed over 5 years)• First at Penn to perform a genome-wide analysis of protein-DNA binding at high resolution (PMID: 25957148)• Highly collaborative with 20+ publications co-authored with 12 PIs at Penn (7) and elsewhere (5)

Established genomics approaches in the laboratory of Dr. Mitchell Lazar to investigate protein-DNA interaction and gene expression across the genome. High-impact studies and promotion to Penn faculty followed.• Four research papers with 1930+ citations (first-author PMIDs: 18285465, 20478996; co-author PMIDs: 18981473, 20176806)• Primary author of awarded NIH Challenge Grant (~2% payline) in response to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Education record

Postdoctoral Research with Erin K O’Shea, PhD • Genetic analysis of gene transcription and chromatin in yeast • Leukemia and Lymphoma.

Education record

Postdoctoral Research with Jerry L Workman, PhD • Biochemical analysis of chromatin structure and function • Cancer Research Institute.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Neuroscience

Graduate research with Pamela L Mellon, PhD • Molecular mechanisms controlling tissue-specific gene expression • Three first-author.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Biochemistry