Justin O. Email & Phone Number

San Diego, California, United States

- Spearhead viral safety initiatives by establishing protocols and SOPs critical to the development and production of high-quality, high-titer virus stocks.- Conduct virus purification and scale-up to produce off-the-shelf (OTS) virus products, collaborating closely with the STC headquarters to meet rigorous quality standards.- Implemented a high-titer CsCl gradient purification workflow for the Minute Virus of Mice (MVM), meeting high-quality benchmarks essential for the Viral Safety Project.- Collaborate cross-functionally, resolving project timelines and objectives to ensure the delivery of client-oriented solutions, including quick, comprehensive responses to customer queries and complaints.- Actively work towards BSL-3 certification to expand project capabilities, contributing to Microbiologics' strategic goal of competing with leading industry panels and unlocking additional virus production services.

San Diego, California, United States

- Head of Virus Core - Primary scientist responsible for all virus purifications and QC. - Compared purification methods to increase viral yield and reduce aggregation. Significantly reduced empty viral capsids by switching over from CsCl to iodixanol purification. - Drove process development initiatives, optimizing protocols and parameters through DOE studies to achieve a 10X increase in titer across upstream and downstream conditions.- Maintained viral inventory and created a production queue for requests. - Provided viruses and documents to enable IND submission of lead candidate. - Maintained adherent and suspension cells lines for virus scale up. - Collaborated with QA to develop official SOPs and review batch records. - Trained team members on purification and QC methods.- Primary purification methods - CsCl and iodixanol ultracentrifugation, HPLC, TFF- Performed QC assays for release, including TCID50, fluorescent titer, particle titer, and sterility tests.

San Diego, California, United States

Cancer Vaccine & Immunotherapeutics - Molecular Biology group• Primary purification scientist for two different platforms - vaccinia and adenovirus. • Once viruses were purified, virus aliquots were sequence verified via transgene PCR and NGS. Sterility was also confirmed by endotoxin and bioburden testing. • Promoted to adenovirus platform lead and presented production updates at bi-weekly team meetings. • • The meetings involved coordinating production schedules and in vivo dosing deadlines. • Cloned virus constructs using CRISPR and restriction enzyme. The clones were plaque purified for three rounds and sequence verified before scale-up. • Maintained mammalian cells and scaled up in cell factories for virus production. • Trained new hires on large scale entire virus infection, harvest, and purification pipeline.

Greater San Diego Area

Cancer Vaccine & Immunotherapeutics - Molecular Biology group• Annually purified over 25 live vaccinia virus preps via ultracentrifuge (UC) and TFF. • Experimented with different methods and buffers to increase recovery and reduce aggregates. Increased productivity/cell from single digits to 50-100 PFU/cell.• Once viruses were purified, virus aliquots were sequence verified via transgene PCR and NGS. Sterility was also confirmed by endotoxin and bioburden testing. • Maintained BSC-40 and HeLa-TetR cell lines.• Maintained a detailed electronic notebook in complete and consistent manner.

Greater San Diego Area

Vaccine Immunotherapeutics - Virus/Protein Science• Processed and purified live flu virus (BSL-2) using AKTA columns and SEC. • Developed large-scale purification process for 4 different flu virus strains. • Assisted in buffer screen tests to improve solubility of virus and remove aggregates. • Purified viruses over sucrose gradients and separate whole virus from deformed particles and host cell proteins. • Diafilter/ultrafilter viruses using tangential flow filtration (TFF). • Tested Deglycosylated viruses to separate viral subunits and improve resolution by SDS-PAGE. • Analyzed data, troubleshoot failed/low yield purifications, and present findings at meetings. • Packed and tested AKTA purification columns.

Greater San Diego Area

William Schief Lab - HIV vaccine research• Independently expressed and purified up to 20 proteins a week. • Purified proteins using AKTA system - affinity chromatography followed by SEC.• Trouble shooted AKTA errors/clogs and was responsible for maintaining columns.• Tested protein binding via ELISA assay. • Trained newly hired interns on protein purification and buffer making

San Diego, California, United States

William Schief Lab- HIV vaccine research• Assisted in purifying proteins and antibodies in the production pipeline.• Maintained CHO cell line and performed requested transfections.• Made sterile buffers and media for AKTA machines and cell culture.• Managed lab inventory and hazardous waste disposal.

Master Of Science - Ms, Bioinformatics

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Biochemistry/Chemistry