Diane Epperson Email & Phone Number

Lead a diverse portfolio in Translational Medicine and scientific management consulting helping senior level clients with full spectrum strategic and tactical solutions. Areas of focus include innovative new business models, organizational strategic planning, R&D concept development, research strategy, scientific management, business strategy and execution. Specific expertise with vaccines, immunology, cancer therapeutics and infectious disease. Industry R&D experience spans basic science through Phase III candidates in vaccines and drug development.Recent Awards2015 Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar - Spotlight Health

Directed key projects and collaborations with leaders and international experts in academia, biotech and large pharmaceutical companies for priority projects in all phases of development including phase III vaccine candidate.

Developed needle free vaccines in the field of infectious disease, bioterrorism, and cancer. R&D lead- directed teams, interfaced with design engineering firm (IDEO), GMP manufacturing, quality control, clinical, regulatory and business development. Communicated the science to translate ideas and concepts into marketable products.Adjuvant discovery and development. Developed novel injected and skin based adjuvants designed to augment immune responses. Evaluated multiple adjuvants in-house and with Pharma collaborators.Led Cancer Vaccine Group. Developed a multi-prong cancer vaccine concept utilizing potent skin based immune cells (Langerhans/dendritic cells), adjuvant, and tumor antigens. Received $2M NIST Advanced Technology Program funding.

Cancer Immunotherapy. Evaluated patient specific responses and treatment outcomes in cancer patients undergoing stem cell transplants. Analyzed the ability of donor T cells to kill patient cancer cells prior to the patient receiving immune stem cell transplants for treatment of leukemia and renal cell carcinoma. The molecular signatures of T cell receptors were evaluated.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Immunology

Focused on T cell interactions in graft rejection, skin biology, endothelial cell:T cell interactions, antigen presenting cells.

B.S., Biological Science