As an integral part of the R&D team at Vala Sciences, Inc., I have played a role in assay and technology development for many projects covering different areas, including cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity and neuropathy, angiogenesis, histopathology of liver disease, and breast cancer metastasis. These seemingly disparate areas of study share at the core an appreciation for, an understanding of, and an application of techniques related to the principles of human physiological and pathophysiological processes and mechanisms. Using a combination of cell/molecular biology techniques and high-content screening and imaging technologies, I successfully translate theory into practice in the development of both fixed-point and live-cell assays at Vala. Furthermore, I have a background in cancer biology and immunology, as well as a thorough understanding of human health and disease. My master's thesis work focused on the complex interplay among biological race, the immune system, and colon cancer. I also have had the opportunity to teach medical microbiology while in graduate school. As an undergraduate, I performed my thesis work in a molecular aging laboratory and interned at City of Hope studying oncogenic transformation. Thus, I possess a wealth of practical experience and a varied background in cell and molecular biology in the context of studying a breadth of disease processes and biomedicine.