Vahitha S Nizamudheen Email & Phone Number

Highly motivated biomedical research scientist with 7+ years of experience in translational research with genetic manipulation and experimental medicine which lead to the development of novel therapies for early childhood ocular genetic diseases such as Aniridia and Usher Syndrome aimed at improving the vision. This gave me the opportunity of working with small molecules, gene therapy, and cell-based therapies to take discoveries in clinical trials which will lead to improving the quality of human lives without much medical intervention.Technical skills: In vitro experiments – Differentiation of ES/iPS cells to neurosensory progenitors; 3D organoid culture; cell line development & cell characterization; cell-based assays; cell reporter assay; cell viablity assays. In vivo experiments – Preclinical models (mouse, rat, rabbit); ocular disease models; ocular injections (subretinal, intravitreal and anterior chamber); genotyping and phenotyping, electroretinogram (ERG), optokinetic reflex (OKT); optical coherence tomography (OCT); eye tissue collection and processing; immunohistochemistry (IHC); Immunocytochemistry Molecular biology & Biochemistry- DNA/RNA/protein analysis; qPCR, ELISA; Western blot; molecular cloning; nonsense suppression therapy; CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing; microscopy (confocal, TEM and SEM). Computational Biology - Statistical analysis Graph Pad PrismExcellent time management and problem-solving skills evidenced by the completion of 4 different projects during my Ph.D. resulting in 2 first-author manuscripts (in prep) and 1 co-authored paper.Presented over 15 scientific national and international presentationsOther skills: Problem solver; Organizational skills; Project management; Data analysis; Innovative team player; study report.◎ Areas of expertise- Ophthalmology; Cell and gene therapy; Animal model of ocular diseases; Small molecule Ataluren®; Mesenchymal stem cells, induced Pluripotent cells; Drug discovery; Microbiology; 3D organoids.