Lester Thoo Email & Phone Number

Bern, Berne, Switzerland

- Lead author of drug immunogenicity reports for pharmaceutical clients.- Present research and diagnostic updates on "Drug Hypersensitivity" at conferences / webinars for pharmaceutical professionals (European Immunogenicity Platform / International Society of Pharmacovigilance).- Data visualisation and publication writing lead.

Berne, Switzerland

- Implementation of research & development strategies for cellular immunology diagnostics.- Immunology consultation support for adverse drug reactions.- Conceptualisation & writing of research publications.- Represent ADR-AC in scientific conferences.- Communicate scientific interests and news from ADR-AC with various stakeholders (media / business development / healthcare professionals / international outreach).- Yearly mentoring of biomedical laboratory interns (medi - Zentrum für medizinische Bildung).

I'm passionate in helping others achieve mindful balance in their lives through movement. Combining my hobby in Yoga with community outreach such as donations-based public classes enables me to raise awareness and funds for charitable causes I empathise with, such as environmental preservation. I regularly teach both private classes and group classes in Yoga studios.

Switzerland

- Social Media (LinkedIn) communications.- Documentation Writer: creating templates for sponsoring contracts, invoices & award certificates.- Funding & sponsoring applications.- Organising Committee for 1st Annual Symposium (2022).

Bern Area, Switzerland

Gained as a PhD student in the Institute of Pathology, University of Bern.Project: "mRNA Splicing and Epithelial Integrity".Supervisor: Philippe Krebs, PhD.Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation; Gertrud-Hagmann-Stiftung für Malignom-Forschung.In this project, I am interested in studying the effects of dysregulated mRNA splicing in intestinal epithelial cells and how this (a) impacts the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier, (b) if this subsequently alters the adjacent microbiota and the mucosal immune system, and (c) if this promotes intestinal immunopathology. This project will involve using in vivo mouse models, in vitro cell cultures and intestinal organoids, and translational work with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer patients' samples.Research students mentored: 1) Patrick van Delden (2019), 7-months internship for MSc thesis.Project: The role of ESRP1 in Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal transition.2) Benjamin Andreas Grädel (2018), 10-weeks internship for BSc thesis.Project: Modulation of intestinal immunopathologies by epithelial cell alternative mRNA splicing.3) Pascal Martin Guntern (2017), 10-weeks internship for BSc thesis.Project: Elucidating pathologic mechanisms caused by aberrant splicing in intestinal epithelial cells.---Related publications:1) Thoo L, Noti M & Krebs P. (2019). Keep calm: The intestinal barrier at the interface of peace and war. Cell Death & Disease 10:849. 2) Mager LF, Koelzer V, Stuber R, Thoo L et al. (2017). The ESRP1-GPR137 axis contributes to intestinal pathogenesis. eLife 6:e28366.

Brunei Darussalam

Project: “Fluorescence characterisation and in vitro toxicity evaluation of carbon nanoparticles (CDots)”.Supervisor: Adi Idris, PhD.Treated J774.1 mouse macrophage cell line with CDots. Analysed for toxicity of CDots on cells using MTT Assay. Also detected for fluorescence of CDots within cells using both microscopy & flow cytometry. I joined this lab group after my MSc studies to both involve myself in on-going research in my home country, and to continue my scientific training in the interim before starting my PhD studies. This work was to provide preliminary data for further research in utilising CDots for drug delivery.---Related publication:Thoo L, Fahmi MZ, Zulkipli IN, Keasberry N & Idris A. (2017). Interaction and cellular uptake of surface-modified carbon dot nanoparticles by J774.1 macrophages. Central European Journal of Immunology 42(3): 324-330.

London, United Kingdom

Project entitled: "Directing IgE versus IgG1 class-switching following cutaneous stress". Supervisor: Jessica Strid, PhD; Co-supervisor: Greg Crawford, PhD.Utilised a mouse model of cutaneous carcinogenesis to induce IgE/IgG1 responses. Skin draining lymph nodes were assessed via flow cytometry to compare phenotypic differences between IgE/IgG1 plasma cells. FACS and qRT-PCR was also used to investigate differential gene expressions between IgE/IgG1 plasma cells. In vitro class-switching assays were also utilised; B cells were induced to class-switch and factors upregulated during cutaneous carcinogenesis were investigated for any influence on preferential IgE class-switching.Culminated in a project thesis as part of my MSc Immunology degree.Project was awarded Distinction.

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Project entitled: "Identification of novel genes expressed by mouse B-cell subsets". Supervisor: Neil Mabbott, PhD; Co-Supervisor: Barry Bradford, PhD.Performed cryosectioning of mouse spleens and immunohistochemistry on these spleen sections. Confocal microscopy to study co-localisation of proteins of interest. Flow cytometry and FACS to investigate levels of candidate proteins in B cell subsets, and cell-sort B cell subsets for further analysis of gene expressions.RNA purification from cell-sorted populations.Real time reverse-transcriptase PCR for genes of interest to study expression levels.Culminated in project dissertation as part of my BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Immunology) degree.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Immunology

Master'S Degree, Immunology, Distinction In Research Project

Bachelor'S Degree, Biological Sciences (Immunology)

High School, A Levels