Cellular and Molecular Biology Consultant: Dermatology, Skin Pigmentation and DNA Damage Responses and Repair

Expertise

• Over 20 years of research and work in the area of human health, aging and disease.
• Molecular aging,cell growth and cell differentiation of human epidermal keratinocytes.
• UV-induced DNA damage responses, DNA repair, and the study of human telomere biology.
• Dermatology and skin cancer.
• Special Skills:
  • Skin pigmentation
  • Oncology
  • Mammalian cell culture
  • DNA damage responses
  • DNA repair
  • Cell cycle control
  • Mammalian telomere biology
  • In vitro and in vivo models of carcinogenesis
  • Fluorescence microscopy

Experience

Undisclosed University, Department of Dermatology, Research Associate Professor, 1991 - Present

• Graduate Program of Genetics and Genomics (secondary appointment), 2007 - Present
• Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (secondary appointment), 2001 - Present
• Department of Dermatology, 1997 - Present

Research Assistant Professor of Dermatology, 1991 - Present

Tufts University, Department of Dermatology, 1988 - 1991

• Staff Scientist II USDA/Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging

Industry Experience Through Sponsored Research Agreements:

CancerVax, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, 2004 - 2005

• Development of T-oligo technology as cancer therapeutic.
• Worked closely with a team at the CancerVax laboratories to characterize T-oligo-responsive human cancer cell lines and to assay effectiveness of several candidate T-oligos.
• Traveled to the CancerVax laboratories to participate in a seminar series, become familiar with their "good laboratory practices" protocols and help train their scientists.
• Hosted and trained representatives from the CancerVax team in our Boston University laboratories.

Unilever Research, Edgewater, NJ, Melanogenesis studies, 1997 -2000

• Coordinated and assist leading the research efforts of a group at Boston University exploring the use of DNA oligonucleotides as stimulators of melanogenesis (tanning) in human skin.
• Served as a scientific liaison between our research group and that from Unilever and help design, implement and evaluate this work.

Educator in the following courses at a local university and School of Medicine:

• Introduction to Physical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Biochemical Genetics
• Introduction to Intermediary Metabolism
• Integrated Problems Course for medical students
• Special Topics in Pathology
• Special Topics in Genetics and Genomics

Honors & Publications

Academic and Professional Affiliations

• Society for Investigative Dermatology
• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Boston University Cancer Center Translational Research Program

Honors

• Member Sigma Phi Gamma (honor society), Pfeiffer College
• Junior Scholastic Award, Pfeiffer College
• Graduate Summa Cum Lauda, Pfeiffer College
• Departmental Nominee for University of Florida Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year
• Predoctoral Trainee of the National Cancer Institute
• Muscular Dystrophy Association Postdoctoral Fellow
• Recipient of Dermatology Foundation, Research Grant

Publications

• 49 peered reviewed publications.
• 50 invited lectures.
• 13 Patents, U.S. and Europe and several in pending status.

Education

• Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Department of Biochemisty and Molecular Biology, FL
• B.A. Biology, Pfeiffer College, Misenheimer, NC