John Allocco Email & Phone Number

Lawrence Township, Nj, Us

• Successfully managed an external collaboration with Dr Hiroko Wakimoto of Harvard to study the effects of various BMS compounds on cardiac fibrosis in her genetic model of chronic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. • Performed all of the histology for cardiac fibrosis and cardiomyocyte size analysis.• Supported mouse model development via histology and biomarker analysis.• Demonstrated renal benefit of SGK1 inhibitor in rat DOCA model utilizing HALO AI image analysis. • Established a collaboration with the LDO group utilizing their Imaging Mass cytometry capability to study biomarker fluxes in rabbit carotids treated with a Factor X1a prototype molecule. .

Lawrence Township, Nj, Us

• Successfully managed an external collaboration with Cardiomedex in France to study the effects of an AT1R biased agonist in a rat TAC model of heart failure. • Responsible for animal model development to support the heart failure drug discovery projects in the CV group. • Validated non-invasive echo measurements of LV relaxation and fibrosis. • Provided critical fibrosis and cardiomyocyte data to support the ATIR project. Demonstrated anti-fibrotic and hypertrophy reducing effects of an AT1R biased agonist peptide in the RHR model.• Provided support for APJ, relaxin, ROCK, CaMKII, and TREM-1 projects. Data drove GO/NO GO decision making. • Ran several biomarker assays to determine drug target engagement and kidney function. • Provided critical necropsy support on all rat model studies conducted in this lab.• Developed and validated the rat TAC (trans-aortic constriction) model of heart failure.• Demonstrated proficiencies in RHR (renal hypertensive rat), DOCA (deoxycorticosteroid induced hypertension), and AVF (arterio-venous fistula) surgical model development.• Developed expert skills in echocardiography image acquisition and data analysis.

Anti fungal target assay development.

Lawrence Township, Nj, Us

Assay development and implementation to support clinical and pre-clinical drug development.• Performed cardiomyocyte isolation and ran the perfusion contractile assay which demonstrated efficacy of a natural peptide mimetic. • Established purification and cell culture of human endothelial progenitor cells in support of a marketed drug project.• Successfully adapted a medium throughput THP monocyte adhesion assay to a microscopy based cardiovascular flow simulation assay.• Responsible for culture of 5 separate cell lines and development of a HAEC /AVSM co-culture system to support MOA studies of compounds for atherosclerosis.• Responsible for the flow cytometry analysis of hematopoetic cells in culture.

Us

Developed and conducted assays to support lead optimization and mode of action studies of novel oncology chemotherapeutics.• Developed p53/ MDM2 AlphaScreen.• Developed whole cell p53 in-cell western.• Established and conducted cell proliferation assays in four cell lines.• Instituted collaborations with Princeton and Columbia Universities to conduct flow cytometry experiments.• Established flow cytometry apoptosis assays for lead optimization.• Established whole cell proteomics and genomics assays for MOA studies.• Assisted with NMR-spectroscopy of lead compounds.

Rahway, New Jersey, Us

Assay development to support the discovery and mode of action studies of novel anti-infectives:• Cloned and functionally expressed S. aureus DNA Topoisomerase utilizing a novel approach by co-expressing both enzyme subunits in a cell-free expression system. This approach accelerated the assay development timeline.• Developed enzymatic assays for DNA gyrase and Topoisomerase IV to support the isolation/identification of natural product and synthetic inhibitors. • Developed and evaluated a fungal biomarker assay to support CANCIDAS and other antifungal agents. Cloned, expressed, and purified C. albicans arabinitol dehydrogenase for the screen.

Rahway, New Jersey, Us

Target identification and validation which led to medicinal chemistry compound optimization efforts in two anti-infective programs:• Demonstrated that a novel class of compounds specifically inhibits polyadenylation of mRNA transcripts in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Developed poly (A) polymerase assays to support a medicinal chemistry program.• Established that cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitors (known anticoccidial agents) have potent activity against Trypanosome and Leishmania human parasites. Identified casein kinase 1 (CK1) as the primary target for the observed anti-parasitic activity. (1st author of publication)• Performed mechanism of action studies on a novel anti-malarial compound including whole cell binding assays and subcellular localization studies. Results contributed to a development deal with the Medicines for Malaria Venture.• Established an automated HTS whole cell screen to support the natural product isolation chemists in the antifungal discovery program. This assay doubled the throughput of extracts analyzed.• Managed a team of 4 scientists to successfully transfer a novel genomic screening technology for antibiotic mechanism of action studies from Rosetta Inpharmatics.

Rahway, New Jersey, Us

Responsible for the execution of experiments to support drug discovery efforts, general laboratory instrument operation, maintenance and acquisition, training and supervision of interns, new technology evaluation and presentation of data to senior management at working group meetings. • Validated the Mannitol cycle as a chemotherapeutic target for antiparasitic agents active against the apicomplexan parasite Eimeria spp. • Developed a non-radioactive, metabolic, whole cell gas chromatography/mass spectrometry assay to evaluate the effects of mannitol cycle specific inhibitors on parasite viability. • Utilized immunohistochemical and fluorescence confocal microscopy techniques to study the expression and regulation of the key enzymes of the mannitol cycle. (1ST author of publication)• Performed in depth biochemical, enzymological and pharmacological characterization of human and parasitic histone deacetylases (HDACs). Developed a parasite HDAC catalytic assay to support a medicinal chemistry lead optimization effort.• Established the subcellular localization of native and recombinant HDACs in protozoan parasites and mammalian cells.• Purified native and recombinant T. gondii cGMP-dependent protein kinases and determined their biochemical and kinetic properties to support target validation studies.• Performed extensive training of colleagues and summer interns.

Rahway, New Jersey, Us