As a research associate/Lab Manager at Cancer Prevention Research Laboratory-University of Colorado-Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, led multi-disciplinary teams by planning and providing scientific inputs to develop targeted preclinical disease models; published 26 research articles in peer-reviewed international journals. Possessing honed skills in implementing laboratory protocols, designing and documenting experiments, and maintaining rigorous Health and Safety standards, combined with expertise in biomarker development as well as animal and in vitro efficacy studies. On a technical level, worked with HaCaT (human immortalized keratinocytes), JB6 (mouse epithelial), NHEK (normal human epidermal ketatinocyte), HF (human fibroblast), A431 (human epidermoid carcinoma), A549, H1299 (human non-small-cell lung carcinoma), LNCaP (androgen-dependent human prostate carcinoma), C4, C4-2, C4-2B, PC-3 (human prostate carcinoma), and HT-29, SW480 (human colon carcinoma), FaDu and Cal27 (human head and neck carcinoma cells) cell lines in different projects and most of them published in high profile journals.

• Design, development and validation of cell-based assays; infrared EMSA analysis, western blotting, ELISA.
• Design and execution of in vivo experiments to analyze novel therapeutics
• Subcutaneous xenograft implantation skills and administration of drugs through oral gavage, intra peritoneal, subcutaneous, intravenous and topical application.
• Tumor measurements, surgery, necropsy, organ collection, routine animal tissue fixation, processing, embedding and H&E staining.
• Immunohistochemical staining for proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and inflammatory biomarkers.
• Microscopy, histological evaluations, digital image acquisition and analysis; assessment of target modulation.

Recent highlights:

• Developing half mustard (CEES)-induced skin toxicity models relating to use of phytochemicals towards preventing and/or treating damage caused by CEES mustard gas at University of Colorado-Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. Coordinated with postdoctoral fellows and offered strategic insights throughout.
• Demonstrating translational potential of Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) in preventing and controlling growth of advanced and aggressive prostate cancer through targeting P13K-Akt pathway. Discovery heralded as breakthrough in field of cancer research by University of Colorado Cancer Center.
• Analyzing and successfully demonstrating silibinin inhibition of inflammatory and angiogenic attributes in UVB induced photocarcinogenesis- a significant breakthrough.
• Facilitating attainment of NIH grants, managing Health and Safety compliance issues, standardizing experimental models and methods, and delivering extensive project training to postdoctoral scientists and research assistants.

Professional Summary

Demonstrated experience in analyzing the regulation and biological function of signal transduction pathways of human cancer, biomarker analysis in cell culture and in vivo xenograft studies in different preclinical efficacy studies. Lab manager with proven abilities in implementing laboratory protocols, standardizing experimental methods, develop targeted pre-clinical disease models to garner new insights. Twenty five published research articles in peer-reviewed international journals.

• Developed novel anticancer drugs by targeting signal transduction and apoptosis pathways
• Concept development for acute and chronic tumor bioassay and skin toxicity models; UVA & UVB exposure and photocarcinogenesis in hairless mice
• Animal Laboratory Techniques; subcutaneous xenograft implantation and drug delivery by oral gavage, intra peritoneal, subcutaneous and topical application
• Breeding; p53, p21 and p27 knockout mice generation; immunohistochemical staining; in vitro and in vivo Imaging experiment design & documentation
• Cell culture, western blotting, EMSA by Odyssey, ELISA
• Laboratory management, protocol writing and IACUC/IRB submission for preclinical disease models

Experience

Confidential Aurora, Colorado 2005-2011 Research Associate/ Lab Manager Generated the critical anticancer insights by evaluating the effectiveness of phytochemicals on organ-specific carcinogenesis in cell culture (in vitro) and animal (in vivo) models with reference to DNA damage/repair in UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis; cell survival, tumor angiogenesis. Offered dedicated supervision and guidance to postdoctoral fellows and research staff by interpreting results, crafted detailed reports and manuscripts for publication in leading journals. Managed laboratory and associated services, coordinating product demonstrations and webinars, procuring equipment and optimizing methods. Liaised closely with principal investigator in preparing RO-1 grants. Maintained exceptional Environmental Health and Safety standards throughout tenure. Recognized for applying honed research and laboratory administration skills towards driving project success. Key Accomplishments:

• Developed half mustard (CEES)-induced skin toxicity models relating to use of phytochemicals towards preventing and/or treating damage caused by CEES mustard gas. Coordinated with postdoctoral fellows and offered strategic insights throughout.
• Demonstrated translational potential of Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) in preventing and controlling growth of advanced and aggressive prostate cancer through targeting PI3K-Akt pathway. Discovery heralded as breakthrough in field of cancer research by Colorado Cancer Center.
• Analyzed and successfully demonstrated silibinin inhibition of inflammatory and angiogenic attributes in photocarcinogensis, a significant breakthrough.
• Facilitated attainment of NIH grants, managed health and safety compliance issues, standardized experimental models and methods, and delivered extensive project training to postdoctoral scientists and research assistants.
• Planned and executed relocation of labs and offices to new campus without interrupting research activities.
• Played key role in screening well-qualified postdoctoral fellows for Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and offered recommendations. Aided lab members in utilizing MS Office, Photoshop, SigmaStat, SlideWrite, and other software packages.
• Published 20 research articles in peer-reviewed international journals, continually identified project improvements, and drove completion of projects within aggressive timeframes.
• Invited to review research articles for the international journals - Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention; Oncogene; Neoplasia; Molecular Cell Research (BBA); Molecular Carcinogenesis.

Confidential, Denver, Colorado 2002-2005 Postdoctoral Fellow Researched and reported the efficacy of Silibinin, inositol hexaphosphate and Grape Seed Extracts by analyzing the levels of proliferative, apoptotic, angiogenic, and inflammatory biomarkers resulting in highly significant indicative data with applications in every phase of anti-cancer drug discovery, development and clinical practice. Identified crucial project tasks and ensured attainment. Maintained detailed documentation and proactively addressed issues. Facilitated development of viable lab protocols and effectively collaborated with research staff. Key Accomplishment:

• Demonstrated Silibinin effectiveness in protecting against photocarcinogensis through modulating cell cycle regulators, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and Akt signaling. Reviewed and considered for publication based on "scientific merits and novelty" by Cancer Research journal.

Education Ph.D. in Toxicology/Cancer Biology M.Phil in Toxicology Master of Science in Applied Zoology

Teaching Experience:

• Instructed graduate students on Molecular Toxicology methods.
• Educated postgraduate students on Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Biology.

Memberships Member of American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Member of Indian Association for Cancer Research (IACR)