Braine-l’Alleud, Walloon Region, Belgium
My studies in cellular and molecular biology have prepared me for my future as a Gene Therapy specialist in BioPharma Testing and implementing current technologies. In 2008, I fed my genomic passion by starting molecular biology college studies. During this period, I was involved in the screening and characterization of described and undescribed immunodeficiency disorders. That intense and exalted period of my academic career was a springboard for my immunology fascination, which pushed me to join the Clinical Immunology and Applied Biotechnology Ph.D. course. As my curiosity evolved, and after the characterisation of a novel disorder, my interest moved towards the description of patient’s clinical phenotypes and the cellular/molecular causes of these disease phenotypes thanks to multi-omics approaches that allowed me to generate a functional gene knockout cellular model comparable to the patient’s derived cells. We took it a step further by generating a gene therapy treatment aimed at improving the patient’s conditions. We showed that a Lentivirus platform demonstrated an efficient reconstitution of the transgene expression and activity in patients-derived cells and correcting the disease manifestations. Our studies show that this platform is ready to go into further clinical development. The know-how accumulated during my academy career allowed me to deepen my interest and knowledge in the biotechnology industry, where I deal with GMP, organization, time management, interpersonal communication, and efficiency in learning new skills and producing accurate results following experimental procedures.
Key achievement: Subject-matter expert (SME) for the Potency method: - Client onsite training for Potency method (Jul 2021-Sep 2021) - Preparing data overviews and reports with interpretation of results and proposing the next steps in experimental design with rationale and timelines - Managing team members, including providing training and feasibility programs and coordinating activities - JESS Simple Western troubleshooting SME and trainer for Cell-based assay (Potency, TCID50) Validation, Verification & Transfer of Methods (TCID50 and Potency Assays)
Key Achievements: - Working in a multidisciplinary team in the field of Gene Therapy - BSL2 cell culture, qPCR assays - Helped to develop procedures, SOPs, WIs, and notebooks to enter validation - Drafting investigation reports and managing exceptions - Performing method transfer and troubleshooting. - Validation of Analytical Procedures and drafting Validation reports
Molecular and phenotypical characterization of Adenosine Deaminase 2 Deficiency (ADA2) clinical features and development of the pre-clinical studies for ADA2 gene therapy. DoS: Pr A. Aiuti & A. Mortellaro
Identification of novel genes potentially involved in the pathogenesis of the rare immune disease via NGS approach. Validation of the newly discovered genes or variants in specific target cells by gene correction and gene editing. Advisor: Pr A. Aiuti
"Characterization of genetics variants that distinguish Pygmy from Bantu and African population as a model for understanding the biology of idiopathic short stature." The project focused on identifying rare genetic variants on the exome of African rainforest pygmy. This project's aim was based on the similar hormone profile between African pygmy and European affected by idiopathic short stature. The genetic variants were selected through the Sparse partial least squares regression (sPLS) on the exome of eight pygmy subjects and five controls for phenotypic metadata as height, weight, and body mass index. Then we filtered all the selected SNPs for their African and Global allele frequencies. In particular, through a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on all the allele frequencies for each SNPs, we chose the SNPs with the biggest difference to Pygmy from African and Global allele frequencies. The SNPs were validated on a large cohort of African pygmy. Advisor: D. Lazarević
Experimental thesis at Center for Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics (CTGB), San Raffaele Hospital (Italy). "Determination of genetic variants associated with the predisposition to prostatic adenocarcinoma in the Italian people for Italian diagnostic screening panel." The aim of the first project was the identification of genetic markers for susceptibility to prostatic cancer in the Italian population. We select 78 genes associated with prostatic cancer incidences and performed an enrichment library preparation on a pilot cohort of cases and controls. Finally, we select several SNP potentially associated with susceptibility to prostatic cancer in the Italian population, and we are still validating it on a large Italian cohort. We decided to use a specific population because, from several population-specific studies, no one was able to validate their SNPs in foreign populations. So, we sustained the population specificity for the susceptibility to prostatic cancer. Advisor: D. Lazarević
Experimental thesis at PhotoGreen Lab of Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia (Italy), under supervision of Prof. Fagnoni M. : “Functionalization of oxetane derivatives by Photocatalytic way”.