Robert Fellner Email & Phone Number

Greater San Diego Area

Lead Scientist over-seeing in vivo studies associated with pre-clinical research and development. Design and manage a myriad of projects with the aim of assessing efficacy for new indices to add to the drug pipeline for Angiocrines’ cell-based therapies.

I volunteer with Border Angels, helping to sort donated supplies and to deliver those supplies to asylum seeking refugees in need. I drive supplies across the international border, from Border Angels San Diego headquarters to the supply depot in Tijuana, Mexico. These supplies include, bottled water, foodstuff, tents, sleeping bags, diapers, sanitary supplies, etc.

Rtp

My role as lung function specialist has put me in charge of developing a suite of assays to test physiological functionality of engineered lung constructs. I have led the development of a multiple assay platform where lung constructs are maintained in an EVLP-like (Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion) bioreactor. My conceptualization, design and assistance in physical fabrication of this bioreactor has allowed for testing of respiratory function, pulmonary vascular barrier function and epithelial barrier function, pulmonary vascular reactivity and gas exchange of engineered lungs.My contributions to additional projects in our division that I have worked on have led to modifications in many facets of our tissue regeneration process. Additionally, I have played a pivotal role in the development of pre-clinical animal models for testing of drugs associated with other products in our company pipeline.

Cystic Fibrosis And Pulmonary Research Center

My role in the Tarran lab was multi-faceted and a incredible transition period in the development of my biotechnology career. I was afforded the opportunity to work both as an academic researcher and also as a consultant for a new start up company. My skills as a molecular physiologist with deep knowledge of renal function and vascular reactivity allowed me to characterize the IP, which played a crucial role in generating venture capital for the start up company. During this time, I was able to obtain independent funding to support my continued academic work, while also participating in and learning about the industry side of biotechnology with my continued association with drug development for the startup. I was responsible for developing in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro models used in the lab for the study of diverse biological phenomena including pulmonary microbiome, pulmonary mucus clearance function, and bronchial reactivity. I also backcrossed and maintained multiple genetically modified mouse models for the lab, including a SPLUNC1 knockout mouse and a β-ENaC overexpression mouse. My work to this end resulted in a number of international presentations and publications in high caliber peer-reviewed journals.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

My tenure as a consultant for Spyryx involved an integral role in the development and execution of pre-clinical experiments using animal models to demonstrate both efficacy and safety of candidate compounds for a Cystic Fibrosis therapeutic. These studies and the resulting data were deemed the linchpin in securing Series A Round capital for the startup company's fast growth. Additional contributions of mine, in the form of design and execution of both in vivo and in vitro studies, were key in identifying which specific compound should be focused on as a potential therapeutic, which is now in phase II clinical trials.

As part of a Project Program grant, I led an independent project where I developed novel advanced surgical techniques for in vivo animal studies to demonstrate the mechanisms of renal blood flow autoregulation in order to determine the specific role of the endothelin hormone system in renal function, resulting in a peer-reviewed journal article as first author.I obtained independent funding (AHA grant) to perform studies using ex vivo models and in vivo animal studies to enable analysis of vascular reactivity of microvessels in single nephrons and its modulation by reactive oxygen species, resulting in a peer-reviewed journal article as first author.During this time I also served as instructor for renal block of a medical physiology course to MCG medical students, and sections of graduate student courses taught in the MCG Physiology Department. Additionally, I mentored a graduate student and multiple undergraduates

My graduate research work was an incredible time of learning and growth in my scientific career. I obtained multiple different sources of independent funding to fuel multiple projects. My primary project was to characterize the systemic source and fate of circulating natriuretic peptide (uroguanylin) and determine if it was an endocrine agent involved in volume homeostasis. This involved cloning, protein synthesis, protein purification, molecular biology (rtPCR and western blotting), survival surgeries, diet studies and acute in vivo studies.At some point, this project was derailed by the lack of an assay with sufficient sensitivity to asses levels of the protein of interest in the small volumes of biological samples collected so I developed a novel assay de novo capable of such. This involved the production and purification of membrane vesicles containing a specific receptor, production of a radiolabled ligand, and determining the binding relationship and kinetics between the two.One of my funding sources (NC TraCS) allowed me to lead a clinical project to determine if there was a correlation between circulating levels of proUroguanylin or urinary Uroguanylin with CHF severity. This included writing and obtaining approval for Institutional Review Board application for human studies.

Phd, Cell And Molecular Physiology

Bs, Biology - Chemistry