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Faculty Profile |
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Pharmaceutical Sciences
Postdoctoral Scholar, Stanford University, 2014 – 2021
Department of Genetics, Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine
Developed a novel surrogate measurement of insulin sensitivity by measuring mitochondrial function following exposure to patient serum in response to various mitochondrial stimuli. This measurement is well correlated (R2 = 0.7) with insulin sensitivity as determined in the clinic by the modified insulin suppression test. Follow up investigations have identified IgG antibodies and their Fc region glycosylation as the mediators of this phenotype through the Fc receptor, FcRn. Administration of “healthy” IgG antibodies were demonstrated to provide prolonged re-sensitization of leptin-receptor deficient diabetic mice to insulin and significantly improved glucose levels.
Characterized B cell and autoantibody repertoires using next generation sequencing and ultra-high density peptide microarrays respectively in individuals with quantitative metabolic phenotyping. Insulin resistance was associated with reduced plasticity of the B cell repertoire as observed by static usage of V-J recombination, clonality, biochemical properties, and decreased somatic hypermutations over time. Additionally, insulin resistance individuals had a great number of autoreactive antibodies compared to insulin sensitive individuals. These phenotypes could be attributed to reduced expression of the inhibitory Fc receptor, FcR2B.
Graduate Research Assistant, Purdue University, 2009 – 2013
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Developed computational tools for the analysis of phospho-proteomics data to design artificial proteins as tyrosine kinase specific biosensors for detection of kinase activity. Substrates were developed for a wide-range of applications, including mass spectrometry, fluorescence lifetime imaging, time-resolved lanthanide luminescence, and time-resolved luminescence energy transfer (TR-LRET) for multiplex detection of multiple tyrosine kinase activities.
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Xavier University, 2006 – 2008
Department of Chemistry
Performed research on the development of nickel(II) catalysts to activate oxygen as oxidizing agents. Designed and synthesized electron-donating ligands to incorporate into nickel(II) complexes and characterized complexes using spectroscopic techniques.
*These authors contributed equally to this work
#Co-corresponding author