Experience

OncoResponse Inc.

• Chief Scientific Officer

  • Jan 2018 - Present

  Greater Seattle Area



Celgene

• United States
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director, Immunology & Inflammation

  • Apr 2015 - Nov 2017

  Greater Boston Area Established and led a preclinical research group to discover new molecular entities for pipeline as well as identifying and supporting new indications for existing portfolio molecules. Provided strategic and tactical support of critical immunology priorities; including influencing the early pipeline, performing critical review and oversight of discovery stage projects, providing expert guidance to multi-disciplinary teams and senior management, identifying and providing due diligence of… Show more Established and led a preclinical research group to discover new molecular entities for pipeline as well as identifying and supporting new indications for existing portfolio molecules. Provided strategic and tactical support of critical immunology priorities; including influencing the early pipeline, performing critical review and oversight of discovery stage projects, providing expert guidance to multi-disciplinary teams and senior management, identifying and providing due diligence of alliance opportunities, and supporting ongoing alliances for success. • Developed immunology discovery strategy while partnering with stakeholders. • Grew the preclinical research department, including recruiting and mentoring new members. • Co-lead IBD working group to develop and execute on IBD strategy. • Supporting technology evaluation, in-licensing opportunities and work relating to existing collaborations. • Managed academic collaborations, and delivered preclinical data package on high priority projects, and Co-PI for three fellowship programs. Show less



Gilead Sciences

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Director

  • Apr 2011 - Apr 2015

  Greater Seattle Area Directed research efforts for exploratory biology, target validation, and drug development projects in immunology. • Led, or served on, company-wide, cross-functional preclinical program teams on multiple projects. Delivered preclinical data package on proprietary PI3K inhibitor, resulting in the decision to move this compound into full clinical development. Responsible for writing sections of the IND and IB documents. • Member of teams that supported clinical development of Zydelig™… Show more Directed research efforts for exploratory biology, target validation, and drug development projects in immunology. • Led, or served on, company-wide, cross-functional preclinical program teams on multiple projects. Delivered preclinical data package on proprietary PI3K inhibitor, resulting in the decision to move this compound into full clinical development. Responsible for writing sections of the IND and IB documents. • Member of teams that supported clinical development of Zydelig™ (marketed), GS-9820 (Ph2), and GS-9901 (Ph1). Contributed to the FDA and foreign regulatory documents and responses to questions from the FDA and Advisory Committee. Performed analysis of the clinical data set to support patient stratification, association with AEs, and mechanisms of resistance. • Member of the Immunology Working Group to identify, assess, and prioritize external opportunities and new project proposals. • Established an extensive network of academic collaborations with major research centers and key opinion leaders in priority biology areas. Show less



Calistoga Pharmaceuticals

• United States
• Biotechnology
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Head Of Research

  • Feb 2007 - Apr 2011

  Greater Seattle Area Established a preclinical research department and directed efforts to support all IND-enabling research activities, including lead optimization and biomarker discovery to establish PKPD relationship, patient stratification, and mechanism of resistance of PI3K inhibitors. • Established a preclinical Immunology Oncology research laboratory. - Laboratory design and build out. - Equipped and set-up the laboratory. - Recruited and mentored the preclinical research group… Show more Established a preclinical research department and directed efforts to support all IND-enabling research activities, including lead optimization and biomarker discovery to establish PKPD relationship, patient stratification, and mechanism of resistance of PI3K inhibitors. • Established a preclinical Immunology Oncology research laboratory. - Laboratory design and build out. - Equipped and set-up the laboratory. - Recruited and mentored the preclinical research group members. • Directed research studies profiling PI3K inhibitors, identified several lead candidates, three of which progressed to clinical testing. Responsible for writing sections of the INDs. • Established and managed academic collaborations (25 investigators) and CROs to generate pharmacology data in oncology and inflammation indications, resulting in the decision to move CAL-101 and CAL-263 into full clinical development. • Managed translational efforts to identify PD Biomarkers, established assays, and transferred to CRO for clinical studies. • Organized SAB meetings to discuss future direction of the projects. Updated board members on project developments. • Prepared a confidential information package to explore partnering opportunities leading to the successful acquisition of the company by Gilead. Served as internal expert to address questions from partners and contributed towards integrating Calistoga Pharmaceuticals into Gilead. • Identified and invited KOLs, medical, and scientific experts in oncology and inflammation research for collaborations, seminars, and consultation Show less



ICOS Corporation

• United States
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

• Sr. Staff Scientist

  • 1999 - 2007

  • Led preclinical efforts on the PI3K project that identified development candidates suitable for IND enabling studies for autoimmune and allergic inflammatory diseases. • Awarded two Outstanding Achievement Awards for scientific leadership at ICOS. Major contributions to this project include: - Managed a team conducting preclinical studies for key PI3K project areas, including development of functional assays for target validation and PKPD evaluation. - Established and managed… Show more • Led preclinical efforts on the PI3K project that identified development candidates suitable for IND enabling studies for autoimmune and allergic inflammatory diseases. • Awarded two Outstanding Achievement Awards for scientific leadership at ICOS. Major contributions to this project include: - Managed a team conducting preclinical studies for key PI3K project areas, including development of functional assays for target validation and PKPD evaluation. - Established and managed academic collaborators (20 investigators) and contract labs to investigate biology of PI3Kdelta and its implications in human diseases. - Prepared and presented confidential information packages to potential partnering companies, and compiled a data package for due diligence, leading to the successful out-licensing to Calistoga Pharmaceuticals. • Cloned a member of a novel GPCR family, and established luminescence-based calcium and reporter-based functional assays for ligand identification. • Served as a member of an internal committee to review new target proposals. • Evaluated 45 preclinical and 16 clinical stage in-licensing opportunities across multiple therapeutic areas. Four of these opportunities progressed to full due diligence, and 7 under active negotiation. Participated in 4 due diligence activities. Responsibilities included: spearheading scientific evaluation, seeking competitive intelligence through database searching, organizing meetings, and presenting to the senior management. • Identified and invited a number of opinion leaders, medical, and scientific experts for seminars and consultation. Show less



CytoTherapeutics, Inc.

• Group Leader, Cell and Molecular Biology

  • 1996 - 1999

  CTI’s Cell Therapy technology focused on delivery of biologics to the CNS via implantation of engineered cells encapsulated in biocompatible devices. • Managed a biology team to develop encapsulated cell devices, and to demonstrate efficacy of corporate partner’s growth factor in preclinical models, which led to a milestone payment. • Updated the project status to the management, subsidiary company, and corporate partners. Served as a consultant for corporate partner Genentech on their… Show more CTI’s Cell Therapy technology focused on delivery of biologics to the CNS via implantation of engineered cells encapsulated in biocompatible devices. • Managed a biology team to develop encapsulated cell devices, and to demonstrate efficacy of corporate partner’s growth factor in preclinical models, which led to a milestone payment. • Updated the project status to the management, subsidiary company, and corporate partners. Served as a consultant for corporate partner Genentech on their growth factor protein processing, and bioactivity. • Initiated and managed Protein Biochemistry and Proteomic research programs to characterize protein therapeutics released by engineered cells concerning protein processing, bioactivity, stability, folding, and post-translational modifications. • Discovered novel isoforms of the company's top priority neurotrophic factor, and designed strategies to optimize expression, which was critical to the development of this protein. Show less



Harvard University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Postdoctoral Fellow

  • 1993 - 1996

  Research was focused on understanding the role of cell adhesion molecules in immune cell recruitment during inflammation. • Discovered the identity of an important vascular ligand for human L-selectin. • Identified a novel mechanism of lymphocyte recruitment to high endothelial venules through adhesion receptors on activated platelets. • Demonstrated requirement of a critical shear threshold to promote cell adhesions through L-selectin, in contrast to interactions through other… Show more Research was focused on understanding the role of cell adhesion molecules in immune cell recruitment during inflammation. • Discovered the identity of an important vascular ligand for human L-selectin. • Identified a novel mechanism of lymphocyte recruitment to high endothelial venules through adhesion receptors on activated platelets. • Demonstrated requirement of a critical shear threshold to promote cell adhesions through L-selectin, in contrast to interactions through other adhesion molecules enhanced at low shear. • Demonstrated a chemical modification of a mucin-like ligand that enhanced selectin interactions and may have implications in designing drugs to block cell adhesion. Show less