Rachel Leung, Msc Email & Phone Number

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Established an HPLC-based assay to characterize and quantitate a critical small molecule drug in cell differentiation processes.
• Developed a capillary electrophoresis-based method to characterize proteins (new capability in Process Development).
• Provided urgent support to other teams in Process Development by assisting in large-scale cell bank creation and cell differentiation.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Screened over 46 novel drug candidates using structure-activity relationship studies to advance lead compound identification with an aim of developing a drug for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced diabetes.
• Characterized in vitro ADME properties and in vivo pharmacokinetic profile (oral, IV) using rodent models for the first fully selective Liver X Receptor β (LXRβ) antagonist.
• Developed an approach to overcome solubility barriers in LXR protein extraction by generating a novel expression construct and optimizing protocols for protein expression/purification, thereby increasing the yield of.
• Provided training to lab personnel on cell-based assays, LC/MS/MS, and FPLC, expediting the introduction of new trainees and technicians.
• Technical expertise in: cell transfection, luciferase reporter assay, metabolic stability assay, IV tail injections, protein expression and purification.

Toronto, Canada Area

• Developed immunological assays using ELISA systems, cell-based methods, and Luminex technology, working with interdisciplinary teams and increasing workflow across multiple projects by over 30%.
• Qualified an immunoassay to determine the antigenicity of proteins in vaccine drug substance, allowing project to meet accelerated timelines in preparation for phase I clinical trials.
• Contributed towards the design of a novel approach for screening monoclonal antibodies, leading to a publication in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2019.10.001).
• Reviewed and contributed towards writing of 5+ SOPs, 3 development reports, and qualification reports.
• Maintained various cell lines under differing culture conditions, including adherent, semi-adherent, and suspension (i.e. HEK293, CHO, Hep-2, A549, HeLa, THP-1, U-937).

• Research project focused on the regulation of phosphoinositides and its significance in apoptotic signaling pathways in a cancer cell line.
• Identified an unprecedented mechanism in which cells activate the MAPK/ERK pathway, contributing towards the understanding of intracellular processes important for cancer survival and proliferation.
• Presented findings at annual Chemistry and Biology Research Symposium, showcasing methodology and new advancements.
• Technical expertise in: preparation of whole cell lysates, western blots, maintainance of various cell lines (RPE, MDA-MB-231, HeLa).

Master Of Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Thesis dissertation on the screening and characterization of novel drug candidates for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced diabetes..

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Biology (Honours), Co-Op Program

Honours thesis on investigating lysosome adaptation upon epidermal growth factor stimulation in the context of cancer cell growth..