Monica Epperson, Phd Email and Phone Number

Microbial Pathogenesis and Immune Response Laboratory:Technical Projects and Expertise:1. Anthrax Diagnostics Team, Project LeadLateral flow immunoassay development: field-deployable rapid test for detection of anthrax antigens in human blood, sera, and plasma. Subject matter expert in device development.Laboratory test development for detection of anthrax antigens in human sera and plasma. multiplexed plate based assays.2. N. meningitidis Assay Team, Project Lead for implementation of serum bactericidal activity assay and testing. 3. Immunobiology Team, Project Lead. Multiplexed, bead-based assays for pertussis vaccine development. Emergency Response:1. Zika Lab Response Team: Implementation of CDC-Ft Collins Zika ELISA and commercial Dengue IgM ELISA for surge support. CLIA General Supervisor for competency assessment of Zika & Dengue ELISAs. 2. Zika Response Evaluation Team: CDC Emergency Operations Center. Capture challenges and strengths of Zika Response. Prepared recommendations for improvement and implementation of innovations in future responses.2. Anthrax Serology: Clinical testing team. Development and validation of high-throughput ELISA for response to an anthrax incident. CDC Anthrax Laboratory Surge Exercise participant 2013.3. Points of Dispensing (POD): Completed Dekalb County Board of Health POD Manager’s Training Course and CDC POD training for emergency response. Project Management Experience: Budget projections, scheduling, contract preparation and technical review, crafting Statements of Work and Project Deliverables, preparation of monthly and annual reports to internal/external stakeholders.Quality Management Experience: Work under fully enforced QMS, clinical testing under CLIA, completed ISO 17025:2005 Laboratory Accreditation Course. Preparation of SOPs, training and competency assessment documents, editorial and technical review of SOPs. Working groups: electronic document control system, inventory systems

• Investigating HDL function/dysfunction and mechanisms of fatty liver disease.• Served as Peer Reviewer for the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism• Evaluating oxidative stress markers in plasma from patients of various disease states – fatty liver, diabetes, renal, metabolic syndrome, as well as post-prandial oxidative stress.• Lab skills: microRNA analysis/qRT-PCR, ELISA, lipoprotein isolation via FPLC of plasma; oxidative stress assay development and troubleshooting, flow cytometry, clinical chemistry analyzers - Beckman CX-7 and AU480, MesoScale Discovery Spectra2400 (multi-spot biomarker analysis); fluorescence-based assays (96 well format)• Process/Log-in human studies samples from multiple clinical trials; perform laboratory analyses per SOPs. Universal Precautions experience – extensive whole blood, plasma, blood cell handling, including HIV positive samples• Training/supervising undergraduate and graduate students in laboratory techniques.• Calibration, maintenance, quality control AU460 clinical chemistry analyzer, FPLC, microplate readers.• Laboratory management duties including ordering and maintaining sample and chemical inventories, chemical waste disposal, contact for equipment repairs/maintenance.• Clinical studies training: obtaining informed consent and access patient information via CPRS.

• Project manager of Phase II Small Business Innovative Research Grant (Amy Rubinstein, PhD, Principal Investigator). • Responsible for writing yearly progress reports for NIH submission.• Developed/optimized high-throughput assays utilizing zebrafish to identify compounds that affect lipid metabolism.• Investigated all aspects of assay development: design/concepts, automation, mechanical and physical sample analysis, biology/physiology of system, data read-out, data analysis. • Supervised two employees assigned to grant: responsible for training and guiding daily experimental procedures; data analysis, project performance and productivity of grant/project as a whole.• Managed and performed work on outsourced large-scale compound absorption project in zebrafish.• Managed zebrafish facility – maintenance of transgenic lines, breeding, care, inventory, and assigning duties to company personnel as necessary