Niyanta Kumar
Principal Scientist at Mersana Therapeutics- Claim this Profile
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Marathi Native or bilingual proficiency
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Bio
Michelle E. Pizzo
Niyanta is all you could ask for as a co-worker and teammate! I have worked alongside Niyanta for over four years in the Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate program at UW-Madison. We have collaborated on a number of projects, one of which utilized scanning electron microscopy of brain tissue. I am continually impressed by her drive to move a project forward, seek the best solutions, and implement them fast. In particular, Niyanta’s communication and presentation skills are exceptional, allowing her to effectively communicate with investigators, other colleagues in the field, co-workers, and junior students she has mentored. Over the years she has helped to create a welcoming and friendly work environment, for which she will surely be missed. Niyanta would be an outstanding asset to have in any group! - Michelle E. Pizzo
Michelle E. Pizzo
Niyanta is all you could ask for as a co-worker and teammate! I have worked alongside Niyanta for over four years in the Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate program at UW-Madison. We have collaborated on a number of projects, one of which utilized scanning electron microscopy of brain tissue. I am continually impressed by her drive to move a project forward, seek the best solutions, and implement them fast. In particular, Niyanta’s communication and presentation skills are exceptional, allowing her to effectively communicate with investigators, other colleagues in the field, co-workers, and junior students she has mentored. Over the years she has helped to create a welcoming and friendly work environment, for which she will surely be missed. Niyanta would be an outstanding asset to have in any group! - Michelle E. Pizzo
Michelle E. Pizzo
Niyanta is all you could ask for as a co-worker and teammate! I have worked alongside Niyanta for over four years in the Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate program at UW-Madison. We have collaborated on a number of projects, one of which utilized scanning electron microscopy of brain tissue. I am continually impressed by her drive to move a project forward, seek the best solutions, and implement them fast. In particular, Niyanta’s communication and presentation skills are exceptional, allowing her to effectively communicate with investigators, other colleagues in the field, co-workers, and junior students she has mentored. Over the years she has helped to create a welcoming and friendly work environment, for which she will surely be missed. Niyanta would be an outstanding asset to have in any group! - Michelle E. Pizzo
Michelle E. Pizzo
Niyanta is all you could ask for as a co-worker and teammate! I have worked alongside Niyanta for over four years in the Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate program at UW-Madison. We have collaborated on a number of projects, one of which utilized scanning electron microscopy of brain tissue. I am continually impressed by her drive to move a project forward, seek the best solutions, and implement them fast. In particular, Niyanta’s communication and presentation skills are exceptional, allowing her to effectively communicate with investigators, other colleagues in the field, co-workers, and junior students she has mentored. Over the years she has helped to create a welcoming and friendly work environment, for which she will surely be missed. Niyanta would be an outstanding asset to have in any group! - Michelle E. Pizzo
Credentials
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Matlab Onramp
MathWorksOct, 2019- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Mersana Therapeutics
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United States
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Biotechnology Research
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100 - 200 Employee
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Principal Scientist
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Jun 2022 - Present
DMPK Lead the ADME functional team to explore catabolite/metabolite formation, disposition, and biological impact of the next generation of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs). Contribute to and provide insights into PK and PK/PD-based analysis strategies. Work closely with cross functional teams including biologists, chemists, toxicologists across discovery and development. DMPK Lead the ADME functional team to explore catabolite/metabolite formation, disposition, and biological impact of the next generation of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs). Contribute to and provide insights into PK and PK/PD-based analysis strategies. Work closely with cross functional teams including biologists, chemists, toxicologists across discovery and development.
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Merck
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United States
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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Associate Principal Scientist
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May 2022 - Jun 2022
ADME & Discovery Toxicology - Biotransformation and DistributionADME scientist with experience investigating drug, target, and biomarker distribution using high resolution confocal and lightsheet imaging, cell & molecular biology, and LC-MS analytical tools. Co-Lead of Merck’s scientific imaging network. Experience leading scientific strategy and capability build capital projects. Experienced in PK-PD data analysis using Phoenix WinNonLin and Matlab Simbiology for in vitro in vivo correlation, guiding study design, and human dose prediction.
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Senior Scientist
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Jun 2018 - May 2022
ADME | Pharmacokinetics and PharmacodynamicsQWBA and dosimetry study subject matter expertise enabling human ADME studies and regulatory filings. Experienced in working with cross functional sceintific teams across all therapeutic areas in both discovery and development to support our pipeline. Serve on focus groups investigating transport across the blood-brain barrier for CNS drug delivery and strategies to engage intracellular drug targets for ImmunoOncology and other therapeutic areas. Scientific mentor and educator. Led launch of Merck’s first data science and image analytics workshop for self paced learning.
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Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (Technology Transfer) Ambassador
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Oct 2016 - Jun 2018
• Conducted outreach events and meetings with the University of Wisconsin-Madison STEM research community to share information about WARF’s role in technology development (intellectual property management, licensing, and helping startups) and the entrepreneurial resources it provides: Being a graduate student ambassador allows me to provide ‘on-the-ground experience, which helps inform new initiatives and enhance communication between WARF and the campus community’. • Organized, hosted and raised sponsorship for the annual Discovery Challenge spring research symposium: This event brings together researchers across all departments on campus and provides an opportunity to create multi disciplinary collaborations to further research goals. Skills: o Intellectual Property Management o Licensing patented technologies o Understanding business strategy and development
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Graduate Student Research Assistant
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Jan 2013 - Jun 2018
Drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) is challenging due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers (BCSFBs). My research in the laboratory of Assistant Prof. Robert Thorne focuses on investigating the DMPK of antibody based therapeutics following intranasal or vascular (systemic delivery). The intranasal pathway provides a non‐invasive route for drug delivery to the CNS which has implications for improving patient compliance and reducing costs. Using radioactivity and fluorescence based methods I have demonstrated that nasal delivery allows drugs access to perineural and perivascular pathways that potentially bypass the BBB. This research has: • Delineated the central nervous system distribution, dose response, and pharmacokinetics of radiolabeled IgG after intranasal and vascular dosing to assess the feasibility and saturability of each drug delivery route. • Investigated the effect of protein size on central nervous system distribution by comparing intranasal delivery of antibody fragments (Fab and single domain antibodies) versus full length IgG. • Developed a patented strategy to improve CNS delivery of intranasally applied antibodies by modulating nasal epithelial permeability using a physiologic enhancer - Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) • Delineated that perivascular distribution is KEY to the nasal drug delivery route scaling across species • Provided the FIRST report for a 3 step nose‐to‐brain transport pathway for antibodies following intranasal delivery. Technical skills: o Protein analysis: Protein radiolabeling, autoradiography, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, western blot o Imaging techniques: confocal, epifluorescence, and electron microscopy o Biostatistics o ImageJ/Fiji, Adobe illustrator, Adobe InDesign, SigmaPlot, and Microsoft Office
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Junior Research Fellow
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Jul 2011 - Jul 2012
• Investigated the role of post transcriptional regulation in adult pluripotent somatic stem cells during regeneration in the fresh water planarian Schmidtea mediterranea in the laboratory of Dr. Dasaradhi Palakodeti. • Characterized RNA binding proteins involved in post transcriptional regulation that were unique to a population of planarian adult pluripotent stem cells called ‘neoblasts’ which are involved in the process of regeneration. • Created over 10 RNAi plasmid vectors to silence RNA binding protein transcripts and study their relevance for regeneration. • Technical Skills: o DNA and RNA analysis: PCR, RT-PCR, RT-qPCR o RNA interference (RNAi) o in situ hybridization
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Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune
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India
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Research Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Research Assistant
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2010 - 2011
• Investigated the role of neuropeptide-Y (NPY) and Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) mediated regulation of neuronal glucose sensing using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system in the laboratory of Dr. Aurnab Ghose. Technical skills: o Epifluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy o Immunohistochemistry o Cryosectioning o Maintenance of zebrafish embryos and larvae • Investigated the role of neuropeptide-Y (NPY) and Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) mediated regulation of neuronal glucose sensing using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system in the laboratory of Dr. Aurnab Ghose. Technical skills: o Epifluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy o Immunohistochemistry o Cryosectioning o Maintenance of zebrafish embryos and larvae
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Lupin Pharmaceuticals
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United States
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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Clone Development Team Intern
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May 2009 - Aug 2009
• Gained valuable experience working in an industry setting by working with the clone development team at Lupin Ltd. under the mentorship of Dr. Shardul Salunkhe • Reduced the susceptibility of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) to OmpT protease in E.coli strain DH5α by carrying out site directed mutagenesis in the GFP gene and determined key residues involved in successful fluorescence of GFP in the native form • Technical skills: o Site directed mutagenesis o T vector cloning o Preparing competent cells o PCR
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Education
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2012 - 2018
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Pharmaceutical Sciences -
2006 - 2011
Savitribai Phule Pune University
Integrated BS + MS, Biotechnology -
2004 - 2006
Fergusson College
HSC, Science -
2017 - 2017
University of Wisconsin-Madison - School of Business
Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, Business strategy and entrepreneurship
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