Led a multidisciplinary team of 5, including Directors, Assistant Directors, and Scientists, to drive assay development for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments in gastrointestinal therapies. Developed a suite of innovative ELISA-style assays tailored for tissue, serum, and fecal samples, optimizing workflows and enhancing clinical relevance. Collaborated extensively across functions, partnering with engineering, preclinical, business development, and clinical affairs teams to synchronize R&D initiatives with corporate strategy. Oversaw the design, development, and validation of assays aimed at providing rapid, reliable, and actionable data to support preclinical decision-making and therapeutic advancements.

Co-founded startup and directed R&D efforts for development of instruments and reagents for rapid detection and minimally invasive analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating endothelial cells, and circulating cancer-associated fibroblasts in the bloodstream. Reported to CEO, collaborated regularly with fellow executives, built/supervised team of 10 employees, ran weekly meetings, and played key role in managing relationships with potential clients, partners, investors, and acquirers.• Led development/validation of sensitive, broad-spectrum CTC detection cocktails including specialized preparations for recognizing specific processes or targets such as cell proliferation and apoptosis, detecting markers of tissue of origin, and actionable targets.• Created a non-enrichment based blood sample preparation method designed for automation.• Submitted numerous provisional patent applications (method as well as composition of matter) with USPTO and filed PCT application for patient sample processing/analysis.

Joined academic lab focused on pancreatic cancer research. Investigated possible innovations for phage-display biopanning and participated in molecular imaging and microvesicle studies. Taught/guided post-doc and graduate students as well as professional lab employees.• Developed reagents that successfully increased utility of phage-display biopanning.

Recruited by leading technology company. Secured funding and managed programs for diverse initiatives such as drug development (including SL0101, which was discovered during tenure at University of Virginia and subsequently obtained by Luna Innovations, LLC) and creation of assays to detect environmental pathogens and weapons of mass destruction. Supervised team of 4 Senior Scientists and Lab Specialists.

Developed and directed drug discovery program in breast cancer research lab. Designed and automated antibody-based kinase assays for identifying novel kinase inhibitors in botanical extracts (~7K screened in total). • Co-discovered SL0101 (the first small-molecule p90RSK-specific inhibitor); characterized/developed SL0101 as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory agent.• Conducted structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses and optimized SL0101 for in vivo efficiency.• Filed 2 patents to protect IP.