Was in charge of building pre-clinical data packages for partnership or internal development of various assets.Led antibody validation, optimization, and engineering campaigns internally or through CRO outsourcingManaged external collaborations Participated in business meetings and contribute to business decisions through project evaluation and due diligence

Was in charge of building pre-clinical data packages for partnership or internal development of various assets.Led antibody validation, optimization, and engineering campaigns internally or through CRO outsourcingManaged external collaborations Participated in business meetings and contribute to business decisions through project evaluation and due diligence

• Led a team of structural and molecular biologists whose mission was to engineer efficacious but toxic anti-tumor biologics, to decrease their toxicity and optimize their biological, pharmacological and developability properties. • Advanced biologics including an antibody and complex Fc fusion proteins from discovery to development candidate selection. • Cross-functional project leader for several tumor-selective cytokines - First inventor and discovery project lead of XTX301 (licensed by Gilead).

Built and led the Cambridge, MA site of Abexxa Biologics, Inc. Led from the bench the development of biologics and their evaluation as potential therapeutics in the field of immuno-oncology including checkpoint inhibitors and TCR-like T cell engagers.Antibody engineering, Fc optimization, multispecific development, lead selection and optimization, in vitro model development for biologics evaluation.

Led a group of scientists and research associates, in charge of recombinant antibody cloning, engineering, expression, and quantification; recombinant protein antigen expression and purification; NGS; automation; and CRISPR/Cas9 mediated KO cell line generation.

Responsible for building and managing the “Neuroscience and Membrane Protein” antibody portfolio.- CST expert in neuroscience, CNS diseases, and membrane proteins.- Led a team of PhD scientists and research associates in the development and validation of monoclonal antibodies, in a fast-pace, very interactive environment, from target selection to commercial release.- Managed multiple projects simultaneously as the scientific leader and process steward.- Improved the alignment of the Neuroscience portfolio with the customers’ needs: Consulted and collaborated with key scientific leaders from academia and the pharmaceutical industry; carried out site visits to meet with customers.- Participated in portfolio analysis, risk management, and process improvement.- Provided scientific evaluation of licensing opportunities.- Contributed to the writing, reviewing, and editing of marketing material such as brochures, catalogues, and other scientific material. Created content and presented webinars.- Engaged in cross-functional strategic planning efforts regarding the neuroscience portfolio and company-wide product development.

- Managed a large pipeline of antibody development projects from target selection to product release with direct design and development of models for antibody validation and supervision of research associates.- Developed and validated polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against target proteins with a focus on membrane proteins (GPCRs, ion channels, transporters, receptor tyrosine kinases), key components of PLC and PKC signaling pathways, proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases (Tau, beta-amyloid peptides), and genetic tools such as Cre Recombinase.- Initiated and contributed to the design and successful implementation of novel approaches for the development of antibodies to difficult targets such as multi-membrane spanning domain proteins.- Consistently surpassed annual goals by 10-20%

Conducted independent research pertaining to the identification of new targets and pharmacological agents for the treatment liver fibrosis and steatosis. - Secured intramural funding for studies relevant to liver disease and published 5 original research articles and 1 review.- Used my expertise in GPCR biology to discover new GPCR-dependent molecular mechanisms that can be targeted to prevent liver fibrosis.- Identified endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy as a new pathways underlying liver fibrosis.- Evaluated potential anti-fibrotic compounds in disease-relevant cell-based systems.- identified a small cannabinoid molecule as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of steatosis.- Developed and patented a new cell-based assay for screening of lipase inhibitors.- Successfully mentored students.

Conducted research in the field of GPCRs and drugs of abuse. Used biochemical, cell biological, pharmacological, and translational approaches. - Published 8 original research articles, 6 reviews, and 2 book chapters.- Discovered novel signaling pathways for GPCR heteromers in neurons.- Described new trafficking and signaling properties for CB1R cannabinoid receptor in neurons.- Identified new properties for GPCR heterodimer maturation, trafficking, and regulation.- Contributed to systems biology studies examining the effect of chronic morphine on synaptic protein composition.- Contributed to the characterization of the active site of endothelin converting enzyme-2 (ECE-2), and to the screening/identification of novel ECE-2 inhibitors.

Thesis Title: Characterization of the active site of Aminopeptidase A using molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis. Identification of the role of the C-terminal domain of this enzyme.- Published 6 original research articles and 1 review.- Generated, expressed, purified, and enzymatically characterized site-specific mutants of Aminopeptidase A (APA), a monozinc metallopeptidase.- Participated in the molecular modeling of the active site of APA.- Designed new APA inhibitors based on structural functional data, and tested them.- Identified the C-terminal domain of APA as an intramolecular chaperone, required for the proper folding, trafficking, and activity of this enzyme.