Bhuvanesh Dave

Direct development of patient derived organoids (PDO) for rare cancers. My role is to develop the PDO models and help provide laboratory services to clients in pharma biotech and academic markets. Netnoids meets an unmet need for tumor model systems for rare cancers to test novel therapeutics. I am responsible for coordinating the scientific and commercial aspects of this platform and deliver product presentations to investors as well as clients.

Direct development of bioassays: (1) PK assays, (2) ADA assays, (3) IHC assays (4) Stability assays. These are all part of companion diagnostics for Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for Medicenna’s anti IL4 drug called MDNA55. My role was to apply my research training in academia, in a Biotech setup. This is short term contract position was taken up to gain insight into the process of working in the Biotech sector.

This experience allowed me to learn how to use FDA guidance documents to determine the assay development profile while coordinating with vendors all over the United States and ensuring the IHC assay was FDA complaint. I helped develop PK/PD and IHC assays for an IL-4 inhibitor as an assay development scientist. The IHC assays was especially tricky since the antibodies in published literature had a lot of false positives and small dynamic range. I was responsible for finding the correct antibody and test for sensitivity and specificity across a range of tissues to ensure making a FDA compliant test.

Direct development of novel therapeutics including modulation of immunotherapeutics, detection of novel mutations in blood/ plasma using digital PCR and developing novel methods for targeting therapy resistant cancer cells of breast and pancreatic cancer, utilizing patient derived animal model systems as well as in vitro 2D and 3D culture models.

Basic research
•Develop and validate a variety of methods and assays to target tumor initiating cells and metastasis in breast and pancreatic cancer. Activities include:
•3D model systems to test for therapeutics.
•ELISA, potency studies, qPCR and protein analysis to determine.
•Identification of novel mutations in cell free DNA and CTCs from patient material.
•In vitro screening studies to identify novel targets for therapy resistant cells.
•In vivo validation studies using patient derived orthotopic xenograft models.
•Identifying the role of NOS signaling in modulating response of checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors.
•Detecting novel mutations in cell free DNA of cancer patients.
•Review existing processes / protocols, identify best practices, and write new / updated protocols, reports and manuscripts to be implemented within institute research activities.
•Manage and develop teams to ensure the highest level of efficiency and proficiency during analytical assay development, testing and transfer of technology.
•Work with direct reports and bioinformatics analysts to review, analyze, and understand the implications of new data generated by the lab and the collaborators.
•Support and coordinate various grants and resources for maximum utilization; ensure that the laboratory is receiving the most benefit it can from financial contributors.
•Strategize and leverage individual strengths and competencies to maximize performance; identify the areas where individual skills will be best utilized.
•Train and develop interns, laboratory technicians and postdocs to improve productivity towards short and long term project and career goals. Provide hands-on mentorship to junior scientists to develop and share best practices.
•Interact regularly with senior and junior scientists for skillful execution of projects and knowledge transfer.
•Provide leadership on research institute educational and collaborative activities.
•Develop strategies for a PO1 grant for the Houston Methodist Cancer Center.
•Perform analytical evaluation of new research, research articles & creative troubleshooting for the cancer center PO1 grant.
•Work with various project teams and KOLs in the project teams to evaluate and utilize innovative data and technologies to support new and continuing projects with quality and cost efficiency as the main strengths.

Identified the key molecular targets for tumor initiating cells using high throughput screening of 493 genes classified through the analysis of clinical data for intrinsic resistance to tumors in breast cancer.
•Developed and utilized the inhibitor of STAT3 as targets for combination therapy, along with KOLs in the department of Infectious disease. Tested the inhibitor in vivo using patient derived xenograft model systems.
•Gathered and analyzed research data; presented research to platform and cross functional project teams at National/International and regional conferences.
•Developed and executed a Lentiviral shRNA screen through the development and validation of high throughput sphere formation assays (using the Biomek 3000 robotics platform) to functionally determine the gene targets for treatment resistant breast cancer.
•Validated the gene list utilizing variety of in vitro tools as well as orthotopic patient derived xenograft models of breast cancer.
•Wrote manuscripts and review articles in the field of tumor initiating cell research, as well as developed grants to generate funding for the future projects based on newly identified targets.

Identification of the mechanism of action of soy and whey proteins on breast cancer
•Development of study to determine the role of soy proteins present in infant formula on the incidence
of breast cancer .
•Determining the role of TP53 in metabolism of whey protein isolate which is a component of hypoallergenic infant formula.
•Gathered and analyzed research data; presented research to platform and cross functional project teams at National/International and regional conferences.
•Wrote manuscripts and review articles in the field of tumor initiating cell research, as well as developed grants to generate funding for the future projects based on newly identified targets.