Experience

Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery

• United States
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Director of Molecular Pharmacology

  • Jan 2021 - Present

  Overseeing assay development and operation to develop therapeutics targeting GPCR, kinase, and ion channel in CNS related disorders and diseases. Overseeing assay development and operation to develop therapeutics targeting GPCR, kinase, and ion channel in CNS related disorders and diseases.



St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Staff Scientist at Dept. of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics

  • Jan 2019 - Jan 2021

  Developed and characterized a combinatorial chemo therapy for pediatric brain and solid tumors. Led preclinical in vitro and PD projects in INFORM2 clinical trial team of clinicians and scientists. Participated in global collaboration effort to initiate a clinical trial for pediatric brain tumor in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies. Developed and characterized a combinatorial chemo therapy for pediatric brain and solid tumors. Led preclinical in vitro and PD projects in INFORM2 clinical trial team of clinicians and scientists. Participated in global collaboration effort to initiate a clinical trial for pediatric brain tumor in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies.



Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery

• United States
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Drug Discovery Scientist II

  • Mar 2009 - Aug 2018

  Designed, initiated, and led drug discovery and development projects to examine GPCR drug targets of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) and muscarinic (M) receptors for treating CNS disorders. • Conducted industry sponsored research as part of unique first of its kind academic drug discovery program. Program is dedicated to drug development and operates similar to R&D within pharmaceutical companies. • Developed and initiated the mGlu1 drug discovery project based on genetic findings in Schizophrenia patients. • Oversaw the M5 drug discovery project of high throughput screening, data analysis, target validation, and lead optimization for treating substance use disorders. • Initiated the mGlu1-oncogenic signaling research in breast, kidney, and glioblastoma cancers. • Cultivated collaborative relationships with principal investigators, scientific thought leaders, and other researchers to expand scope of research and meet project objectives. • Supervised in vitro pharmacology and data analysis for the IND application for M1 Phase I clinical trial targeting cognition improvement in Alzheimer’s patients at the Vanderbilt Clinic. • Established SOPs and developed new protocols to support primary and ancillary pharmacological assays. • Monitored biosafety activities to ensure lab was in accordance with institutional biosafety regulations and managed submission of associated regulatory documents. • Trained and mentored undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff. • Presented research findings in group meetings and published 49 peer-reviewed journal articles. Show less



Vanderbilt University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Staff Scientist

  • Jun 2006 - Feb 2009

  Initiated, planned, and led molecular research studying Phospholipase D (PLD) in GPCR and EGFR signaling pathways using RNAi-based knockdown approach to develop a potential treatment for cancer. • Characterized the EGFR-coupled PLD signaling pathway in glioblastoma and breast cancer cells displaying hyperactivation of EGFR and PLD. • Trained and mentored graduate students and postdoctoral fellows; assisted in grant writing and submissions. • Worked with the principal investigator and built strategic relationships with collaborating investigators to initiate and develop a novel cancer drug discovery project. • Developed new protocols to support primary and ancillary pharmacological assays. • Compiled, analyzed, and published research findings. • Participated in writing and submitting grant proposals. Show less



Oak Ridge National Laboratory

• United States
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Jun 2002 - May 2006

  Designed and conducted cell biology research to investigate the anti-tumorigenic role of the human phosphatase CDC14B. • Discovered the anti-tumorigenic function of CDC14B in preventing centrosome over duplication, multipolar spindle formation and aneuploidy, hallmarks of cancer. • Compiled, analyzed, and published research findings. Designed and conducted cell biology research to investigate the anti-tumorigenic role of the human phosphatase CDC14B. • Discovered the anti-tumorigenic function of CDC14B in preventing centrosome over duplication, multipolar spindle formation and aneuploidy, hallmarks of cancer. • Compiled, analyzed, and published research findings.



Vanderbilt University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Jun 2000 - May 2002

  Initiated and led molecular biology research on the breast cancer cells’ ability to lose anti-tumorigenic retinoic acid production. • Cloned a new isoform of retinoic acid synthase responsible for the production of retinoic acid in immortalized non-tumorigenic MCF10A cells. • Built collaborative relationships with other researchers to meet project goals. Initiated and led molecular biology research on the breast cancer cells’ ability to lose anti-tumorigenic retinoic acid production. • Cloned a new isoform of retinoic acid synthase responsible for the production of retinoic acid in immortalized non-tumorigenic MCF10A cells. • Built collaborative relationships with other researchers to meet project goals.



The University of Texas at Austin

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• • Aug 1999 - May 2000

  • Taught the undergraduate lab course• Conducted the weekly review sessions for undergraduate classes and graduate course• Received the Excellent Teaching Assistant Award for teaching skills.

• • Jan 1995 - May 2000

  • Conducted molecular biology research focused on transcriptional regulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the glucose and lipid metabolic pathways.• Cloned the first mammalian cDNAs for delta-5 and delta-6 desaturases, rate-limiting enzymes for de novo synthesis of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid, respectively.• Characterized the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms of polyunsaturated fatty acids and PPARa agonist to regulate fuel partitioning process in glucose and lipid metabolic pathways. Show less



Sungshin Women's University

• South Korea
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Assistant Level 1

  • Jan 1993 - Oct 1993

  • Directly worked with premature babies and assessed the effect of breast milk feeding on the growth rate in collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics at Sunchunhyang hospital • Directly worked with premature babies and assessed the effect of breast milk feeding on the growth rate in collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics at Sunchunhyang hospital