Experience

Phyla

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder & CTO

  • Apr 2023 - 9 months

  San Francisco Bay Area

• Founder and CEO

  • Feb 2016 - May 2023

  San Francisco Bay Area Precise microbiome editing for the treatment of chronic diseases. - Successfully negotiated a co-development deal with leading skincare company to enter human trials and launch first-in-class acne product - Interviewed over 200 stakeholders (patients, doctors, KOLs, academia, industry professionals) to validate business idea - Wrote successfully-funded NIH SBIR grant to enable R&D, as well as IRBs, regulatory communications, and patents - Collected and analysed skin microbiome… Show more Precise microbiome editing for the treatment of chronic diseases. - Successfully negotiated a co-development deal with leading skincare company to enter human trials and launch first-in-class acne product - Interviewed over 200 stakeholders (patients, doctors, KOLs, academia, industry professionals) to validate business idea - Wrote successfully-funded NIH SBIR grant to enable R&D, as well as IRBs, regulatory communications, and patents - Collected and analysed skin microbiome samples, including isolation and characterization of bacterial strains and bacteriophages - Carried out genotypic and phenotypic assessment of bacterial strains, including assay development for immunogenic markers using sequencing (NGS), in vitro cell based assays, cytokine bead array analysis, punch biopsy experiments, and mouse and pig models - Attended and presented at several biotech conferences, including BIO, BIO Investor Forum, and several microbiome-focused conferences

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Feb 2014 - May 2023

  San Francisco, California, United States



UCSF

• United States
• Higher Education

• Postdoctoral scholar

  • Mar 2011 - Jan 2016

  San Francisco Bay Area Advisor: Michael Fischbach Human Microbiome research. Investigating the interaction between gut bacteria and the immune system. - Gut microbial influence on host immunity: I identified several secondary bile acid metabolites produced by keystone members of the genus Clostridium that are potent stimulators of the immune system. In a mouse model, two lead compounds modulated TH17 and Treg cell function via novel nuclear receptor pathways. - Elucidation of the bile acid 7-dehydroxylation… Show more Advisor: Michael Fischbach Human Microbiome research. Investigating the interaction between gut bacteria and the immune system. - Gut microbial influence on host immunity: I identified several secondary bile acid metabolites produced by keystone members of the genus Clostridium that are potent stimulators of the immune system. In a mouse model, two lead compounds modulated TH17 and Treg cell function via novel nuclear receptor pathways. - Elucidation of the bile acid 7-dehydroxylation pathway: Bile acid dehydroxylation is one of the most significant metabolic transformations by gut microbiota, and it affects our metabolism, immunity, and health. In order to fully characterize this pathway, I performed whole genome sequencing of active strains and profiled active gene clusters using RNASeq. Using synthetic biology, I transferred these clusters into other expression systems and validated the metabolic intermediates using GCMS and LCMS. Further, I characterized the pivotal and rate-limiting enzymes in this pathway via heterologous expression, purification, and analysis. Show less



Johns Hopkins University

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Graduate Student

  • Aug 2000 - Feb 2011

  Baltimore, Maryland Area Advisor: Dr. Tamara Hendrickson Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry. Structural and Biochemical Characterization of GPI Transamidase in Yeast. - Conducted a structural and biochemical characterization of the membrane-bound enzyme complex GPI transamidase, with an emphasis on the Gaa1 subunit. - By heterologous expression of the soluble truncated forms of these membrane-bound subunits, I demonstrated that the core of this enzyme assembles as a dimer-of-dimers, analogous to the functional… Show more Advisor: Dr. Tamara Hendrickson Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry. Structural and Biochemical Characterization of GPI Transamidase in Yeast. - Conducted a structural and biochemical characterization of the membrane-bound enzyme complex GPI transamidase, with an emphasis on the Gaa1 subunit. - By heterologous expression of the soluble truncated forms of these membrane-bound subunits, I demonstrated that the core of this enzyme assembles as a dimer-of-dimers, analogous to the functional configuration of some caspases. Show less