Designing and validating high-complexity lab developed tests, improving assay workflows, troubleshooting technical and production issues for managing a Clinical Diagnostic Lab.

Experienced at validating and performing LDT for Pharmacogenomic analysis of Patient samples using DME panels- 96.96 Integrated Fluidic Chip arrays on BioMark HDAlso proficient in developing Next Generation Sequencing assays for cancer diagnostics in hereditary and tumor specimens using NextSeq500, MiSeq. Developing workflows for NGS data analysis (Biomedical workbench) and producing reports.Establishing lab-developed real-time PCR testing of micro-organisms in vaginal and urinary tract microbiota with spotted microarrays on QuantStudio 12K flex.

Teaching Anatomy and Physiology Class and Lab.

At Cell Constructs Inc, I have worked on a unique human tissue-derived matrix for culture and delivery of isolated adult stem cells using proprietary microsphere constructs for R&D pre-clinical and clinical phase of wound healing. • Investigated use of stem cells from fat (ADSC) and hair (ORS and DP) cells for use in regenerative medicine using proprietary keratin microsphere delivery system.• Developed methodology for efficient isolation of primary outer root sheath (ORS) and dermal papillae (DP) cells from hair using a combinatorial approach.• Validated protocol for extraction of keratin hair protein for creation of microspheres.• Studied binding and delivery of cells on keratin microsphere carriers (Progenagraft) to wounds. • Isolated human extra-cellular matrix product (Lypo-ECM gel) that could support 3D cell growth and be used for delivery of microsphere to the diabetic foot ulcers.• Documented lab and batch manufacturing records, defined specifications for scale up studies.• Developed quality control assay for ECM to establish cell compatibility and functionality. • Managed lab, chemical inventory, training and supervision of personnel.

Evaluated isolation and differentiation potential of adult stem cell from various sources to generate tissue scaffold constructs for use in regenerative therapy. Key Findings• Generated tissue specific extracellular matrix coatings for the promotion of 3D cell proliferation and maintenance of cell phenotype.• Optimized porosity of natural collagen scaffold to aid cell-matrix penetration.• Assessed differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to muscle cells on a 3D nanofibrous scaffold for bladder tissue engineering.• Implanted autologous urine-derived stem cells expressing vascular endothelial growth factor for genitourinary reconstruction.• Characterized novel source of stem cells obtained from upper urinary tract urine.• Achieved multipotential differentiation of human urine-derived stem cells (USC) for therapeutic applications in urology.• Demonstrated ease of USC transfections for generation of iPS cell technology.

Analyzed the effect of stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD-1), an enzyme involved in fatty acid metabolism, on cholesterol ester synthesis and the progression of Atherosclerosis.Key Findings• Investigated the mechanism of cholesterol-regulated translocation of Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 protein to the cell surface which caused an increase in cholesterol uptake.• Studied the expression of SCD-1 protein in cholesterol build-up by performing functional cellular bio-assays. • Successfully generated SCD-1 overexpressing transgenic mice and found them to be susceptible to insulin resistance and obesity.

Cancer biology researchInvestigated function of cytoskeletal proteins in tumor supressor of the breast and mechanism of Tropomyosin-1 reversion.Key Findings• Established Tropomyosin-1 (TM1) to be a novel suppressor of cellular transformation that was down regulated by promoter methylation in cancer cells.• Discovered that TM1 expression was lost in primary breast tumors, establishing TM1 to be a Novel Class II Tumor Suppressor gene. • Studied the suppression of the transformed phenotype of breast cancer by TM1 leading to cytoskeletal changes.• Confirmed the anti-oncogenic function of N-terminal end of TM1 by genetic modification. Furthermore discovered the amino terminal end was not involved in anti-oncogenic function.• Discovered that resensitization of breast cancer cells to anoikis was caused by TM1: role of Rho kinase-dependent cytoskeleton and adhesion.• Inferred that inhibition of nuclear accumulation of pERK was caused by TM1 mediated cytoskeletal reorganization.