• Experienced in RNA therapeutics in all three drug discovery platforms namely Binder, Ribotac, and Splicer • Identified RNA binding small molecules for CNS (4), Cardiovascular (2), Oncology (12), Metabolic (2), infectious (1), and Musculoskeletal (2) diseases. • Found primary and validated hits for 23 target RNA genes using AS-MS and DEL • Guided team to use computational AI methods to find stable RNA structures and validate secondary structures using Shape MaP• Identified multiple functional compounds for 4 target genes (CNS, oncology, metabolic, and non-coding RNAs)• Guided team to developed cell based assays for compounds functional validation by qPCR, RNAseq, RNA half-life, and luciferase reporter assays• Project lead for partnership program to find RNA binding and splicing compounds. • Systematically reviewed literature to prioritized targets by regular work group meetings• Managed company wide project portfolio• Head of biochemistry to provide support and develop new methods related to biochemical technologies such as fluorescent displacement assays (FDA), TR-FRET, HTRF, ITC, SPR, AS-MS with two direct reports (Ph.Ds. 1 SRAs)• Provided companywide support for RNA production and purification.• Guided team to identify RNA binding compounds using DNA encoded chemical libraries and hit expansion using AI• Introduced and incorporated new technologies in the company• Established compound management and HTS screening capabilities with external vendors for company wide support• Designed in vivo studies and PK/PD analysis to validate compound activity

Served as project leader to develop programs for skin (Rosacea, Atopic dermatitis) and intestine inflammatory diseases (IBD).• Developed methods and protocols for topical delivery of biologic therapeutics.• Wrote animal protocols for IACUC approval.• Designed in vivo animal studies and ex vivo human tissue explant studies to show therapeutic potential of lead biologic protein and establish their mechanism of action.• Performed NanoString analysis for large scale inflammatory and fibrotic gene analysis using R, JMP, N-solver, and excel Pivot tables. Identified diseased enriched genes to build pathways maps to understand MOA.• Hired Ph.D. level scientist by national search.• Supported interdisciplinary research team for biologic development.

• DNA encoded chemical libraries.• Head of target biology programs to identify therapeutic targets in oncology, inflammation, and fibrotic diseases. • Found targets across multiple disease indications after thorough market and literature analysis.• Acquired targets for screening macrocyclic and linear DNA encoded chemical libraries. • Validated target activity and designed novel assays to validate hits in high throughput manner.• Provided expertise in setting up screening strategies to find selective and specific compounds.• Found vendors for pharmacokinetic properties and toxicology analysis. • Initiated collaborations with KOLs to advance and understand therapeutic programs.• Developed several novel assays for validating DNA-tagged compounds binding to target of interest. The assays were based on TR-FRET, FP, ELISA, Enzyme kinetic, and phosphorylation.• Supervised and guided junior scientist for performing and establishing molecular biology techniques such as large-scale library construction, enzyme digestion, ligations, qPCRs, in vitro transcription, mRNA isolation and purification, and preparing samples for NGS.• Established external contracts for protein expression and purification, MST, BLI, cell-based assays, detecting secondary metabolites, acquiring enzymes in large scales, and in vitro studies.

Oncology. Served as project team leader to identify drug resistance mechanisms in Heme/Onc cancer and solid tumors. Developed several drug resistance cell lines for DLBCL and Prostate cancers. • Identified drug resistance mechanism by comparing global mRNA expression profile obtained using RNA seq, and by perturbing cell signaling pathways using small molecule inhibitors or by RNAi that are known to drive cancer drug resistance. • Investigated several signaling pathways such as MAPK kinases, mTOR, TGF-beta, PI3K, B-cells, T-cells and extracellular signaling pathways that are directly involved in oncology signaling of lung, liver, prostate, and hematological cancers.Cardiovascular Diseases. Served as project team leader to identify novel downstream substrates of ASK1 to be used as a biomarker for pharmacodynamic (PD) studies in clinical setting for Dilated Cardiomyopathies (DCM) and Hypertrophic Cardiac myopathies (HCM). • Investigated the role of ASK1 in oxidative stress signaling in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts. • Evaluated the role of BRD4 signaling in cardiac hypertrophy. • Provided support to LOXL2 program by quantifying IHC images from TAC animal studies. • Generated stable cell lines to study the role of ASK1 signaling in cardiovascular diseases. • Established KO cell lines to validate antibodies cross reactivity.Fibrotic Diseases. Led projects to generate preclinical data for fibrosis and inflammation indications. Worked on translational medicine for NASH/NAFLD, DKD, IPF, and Scleroderma diseases. • Performed proof of concept studies, efficacy studies, PK/PD analysis, and biomarker identifications.• Developed assays to determine drug potencies and efficacies. Function blocking antibodies discovery, validations, and in vivo functional analysis. • Managed project with cross functional teams and CROs. • Led projects to identify therapeutic antibodies against integrins and TGF beta signaling in fibrotic diseases.

• Established role of microtubules plus end tracking proteins (+TIPs) in microtubules organizations during cell motility, migration, and cell division• Identified novel +TIPs by functional genomics• Solved molecular mechanism of CLASP2 tracking microtubules plus ends• Demonstrated role of GSK3β and CDKs in regulating microtubules plus end tracking by phosphorylation during cell migration and cell division• Trained and mentored two graduate students and one technician in these projects

• Identified an unusual mechanism in parasite Trypanosoma brucei where cytokinesis can be initiated without completion of Mitosis (EC 2006). Report was highlighted as a significant research advancement by ASM news. • Identified the anaphase promoting complex (APC/C) subunits in Trypanosoma brucei. Disruption of function by RNAi demonstrated role in chromosome segregation during anaphase (JBC 2005).• Major achievement: Developed methods for live cell imaging of highly motile Trypanosoma brucei life cycle