Experience

Novavax

• United States
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Scientist-II Preclinical Vaccine Immunology

  • Dec 2022 - Present



Ceva Santé Animale

• France
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• R&D Scientist-II (Swine/Poultry Vaccines)

  • Sep 2019 - Nov 2022

  Primary focus is on innovation and development of live attenuated, recombinant and killed vaccines against poultry and swine diseases.  Development of Live attenuated Salmonella and Killed Mhyo vaccines and plan/execution of licensure studies.  Conceptualization and Development of PRRSV vaccine and VLPs based vaccine against Swine Influenza virus. New vaccine technology scouting.  Development of challenge models for efficacy studies.  Oversight of USDA compliant laboratory studies and study-monitor for animal studies conducted at CROs.  Technical contribution to USDA-CVB regulatory submissions.  Assist in recruitment of research staff and training.



APTIMMUNE BIOLOGICS, INC.

• United States
• Biotechnology Research

• Vaccine Development Manager

  • Oct 2017 - Sep 2019

  Primary focus was on development, standardization, validation of vaccine technologies to prevent PRRSV, swine influenza and other viral and bacterial diseases in pigs.  Development of USDA compliant in vitro tools to demonstrate potency of vaccines.  Establishment of master seed virus, master cell bank, and culture media adaptation.  Conceptualized and meticulously executed vaccine efficacy animal studies.  Established collaborations with universities, CMOs and CROs on new technologies.  Successful vaccine production scale-up and formulation optimization.  Established a new BSL2 vaccine development center, and hired/trained of new technical staff.



The Ohio State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Post Doctoral Researcher

  • Jun 2015 - Oct 2017

  Independently conceptualized, initiated and developed projects focused on development of vaccine candidates and vaccination strategies to prevent human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) infections Developed 20+ rVSV vector-based vaccine candidates by reverse genetics (US and PCT patent-applications filed) expressing native or codon-optimized full-length/segments of genes of RSV proteins. Developed inactivated/synthetic peptide based hRSV vaccine candidates and evaluated their mucosal efficacy with STING (stimulator of interferon genes) ligands (cGMP and cGAMP) as adjuvants. Conducted 30+ vaccine efficacy studies in cotton rats to optimize vaccination strategies. Optimized an in vitro assay to screen potential experimental antivirals on RSV replication. One publication in Journal of Virology (PMID: 33408176) and one under review/preparation.

• Graduate Research Associate

  • Jun 2010 - May 2015

  Developed vaccines to prevent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in pigs. Co-invented PLGA nanoparticle-based vaccine which is marketed in US as BARRICADE®PRRSV. Developed recBaculovirus expressed virus like particles (VLPs) based vaccine candidates for PRRS. Conducted experimental and field vaccine efficacy studies in pigs, resulted in 18 publications. Introduction, standardization and modification of virology/immunology assays for porcine system. Development of PLGA nanoparticle-based vaccine against Campylobacter jejuni in chickens.



Government of Karnataka Project

• India
• Advertising Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Veterinary Officer

  • Dec 2006 - May 2010

  • Veterinary officer, Government of Karnataka state, India (11/2006-6/2010) - Performed large and small animal practice by giving care and treatment of infectious and metabolic disorders of livestock and companion animals, along with administration of the veterinary hospitals. - Excellent client facing, organization, and leadership skills as reflected by the implementation of 15+ animal husbandry schemes involving 1500+ beneficiaries in two districts of the state.



Poultry Companies (Komarla Group, SKDHL, Asha Feeds)

• Karnataka, India

• Poultry Technical officer

  • Jan 2001 - Nov 2004

  • Technical Officer, Krishnadevaraya Hatcheries Pvt. Ltd. Hospet, India (6/2004-12/2004) - In-charge of technical services related to vaccination, medication, disease investigation and nutritional requirements of ~2.5 million poultry population. - Enhanced overall productivity by ~15%. • Farm Veterinarian, Bangalore Fort Farms Ltd. Bangalore, India (7/2002-5/2004) - Strong managerial and interpersonal attributes as showcased by the efficient management of 120,000+ sized layer farm with 70+ staff - Recorded highest egg production ever produced in the company • Sales and Technical Officer, Asha Feeds and Hatcheries, Hubli, India (1/2001-6/2002) - Responsible for management and technical services to ~0.5 million broiler and layer poultry population. - Expanded broiler integration program by ~50%