Yi Zhou Email & Phone Number

Continue to develope antiviral drugs for patients

South San Francisco, California, Us

South San Francisco, California, Us

Cure for HBV

Boston, Ma, Us

• Played key roles in anti-influenza project from hit identification to preclinical study.­ Served as biology/virology member on the lead in anti-influenza project teamcommittee that ultimately to ensure the project forward, identified VX-787 a novel influenza PB2 inhibitor that is currently in phase 2 studies. final candidate, and eventually filed VX-787 IND. ­ Led mechanism of action MOA team assembled from virology, biochemistry, and cell biology experts tasked to determine the mechanism of action for a hit identified in a phenotypic screen. I identified the defining the MOA for a hit from influenza phenotypic screening and identifying influenza PB2 subunit as the target. ­ Performed and coordinated confirmation assays for hit identification, lead generation, and lead optimization, and detailed impact on viral kinetics..­ Developed methods and conducted experiments to study top candidates resistance and viral fitness. • Performed genotypic and phenotypic studies of HCV variants with mutations conferring VX-950/Telaprevir resistance. ­ Developed a 9 kb HCV genome RT-PCR with detection limit of 1,000 copies/ml from patient serum (resulting in a patent filed)­ Established SOPs and outsourced sequencing to CROs.­ Defined inverse correlation between resistance to Telaprevir and fitness to support ­ Telaprevir NDA filing. • Wrote scientific papers, project proposals, FDA reports and VX-787 IND application. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a strong collaborative spirit. • Supervised and mentored BS, MS and PhD level scientists.• Honors­ 2009 Vertex Outstanding Research Award Nominee­ 2012 Vertex Outstanding Research Award Nominee and was selected to present to Vertex’s board of directors.

Boston, Ma, Us

New York, New York, Us

• Coordinated, supervised and conducted the development of cell based high through put screenHTS assays for antiviral drug discovery. ­ Generated viral reporter replicons (a self-replicating viral RNA in a host cell) for six positive-strand RNA viruses (HCV, yellow fever, dengue, West Nile, Sindbis, EEEV). Developed and validated reporter replicon HTS assays and transferred them to the HTS group for antiviral compound screenings.­ Developed and performed yellow fever and West Nile viral infection assays by setting up collaborations with Washington University in a Biosafety Level-3 facility.• Validated protein ELISA and RNA ELISA for high throughput screening.• Wrote and received Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants . • Trained and mentored junior scientists .

St. Louis, Mo, Us

• Developed episomal ecdysone inducible cell lines to characterize toxic HIV-1 Vpr protein nucleuars localization signal and study its G2 cell cycle arrest function.• Expressed HIV-1 MA protein in bacteria generating polyclonal antibodies for the study of MA function study, and identified ????, a novel HIV-1 MA interaction protein by yeast two-hybrid system.• Supervised the study of the HIV-2 Vpx-gag protein interaction.• Performed radiation and chemical safety training for laboratory personals and new hires. • Gained experience with protein characterization, FACs, in vitro protein binding assay, Ecodyson and Tet inducible gene expression systems, confocal microscope, virus propagation and various viral assays.

• Purified tumor specific/rich proteins from breast and lung tumor tissues to generate mouse monoclonal antibodies against breast and lung cancer. • Purified human α-acid glycoprotein, generated monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, and developed an ELISA kit to detect blood alpha-acid glycoprotein level.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Virology

Virology

Master'S Degree, Biotechnology

Bachelor'S Degree, Microbiology, General

Education record