Claudia Dominguez
Alameda,CA
Summary
Dedicated Immunologist with over 10 years of experience specializing in T cell biology and immune-oncology. Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, driving innovative research projects, and delivering strategic insights that advance drug development. Seeking to contribute to meaningful work in translating research insights to unmet patient needs.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal Scientist
TrexBio
South San Francisco, CA
03.2023 - Current
- Leadership and Strategy: Spearheaded cross-functional teams to drive critical experiments for drug candidate development, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
- Project Management: Coordinated and executed translational experiments to compile comprehensive preclinical data packages, accelerating project timelines.
- Innovation: Developed and validated novel assays, leading to enhanced screening processes and increased efficiency.
- Impact: Successfully led portfolio entry for two candidates, contributing significantly to the company’s pipeline expansion.
Senior Scientist
TrexBio
South San Francisco, CA
01.2022 - 03.2023
- Screening and Analysis: Executed screening efforts to identify modulators of Treg function, resulting in the discovery of a key target for further development.
- Data Workflow: Established and optimized data analysis workflows in R, reducing areas for error and reducing analysis time by up to 50%.
- Decision-Making: Conducted preliminary validation experiments, influencing go/no-go decisions for targets, with one target progressing to development.
- Team Leadership: Screened, hired and managed two scientists, enhancing team performance and development.
Senior Scientist I
Gritstone Oncology
Emeryville, CA
12.2019 - 01.2022
- Program Leadership: Led an exploratory cancer immunology program, focusing on the interplay between tumor biology and vaccine treatments.
- Model Development: Established an NSG mouse model for candidate testing, enhancing preclinical study robustness.
- Collaboration and Innovation: Collaborated on the development and optimization of novel mRNA vaccine therapies, resulting in successful efficacy evaluations in mouse and primate models.
- Regulatory Contribution: Authored research study reports for IND amendments, supporting regulatory submissions.
- Management: Managed and mentored a research associate.
Postdoctoral Research fellow
Genentech
South San Francisco, CA
11.2014 - 12.2019
- Research Impact: Published a highly-cited manuscript in Cancer Discovery (Impact Factor 39.4), contributing to the scientific community and company reputation.
- Model Establishment: Developed and standardized pancreatic tumor models, facilitating the translation of research into pipeline programs.
- Training and Development: Trained staff in advanced techniques, improving laboratory capabilities and productivity.
- Innovation: Research resulted in two pipeline programs, one of which is still in active development.
Research Assistant
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
08.2004 - 01.2007
- Research Contributions: Phenotyped and sequenced neural migration mutants in zebrafish, contributing to significant discoveries in developmental biology.
- Lab Management: Performed general lab and fish husbandry duties, including taking inventory and ordering supplies, ensuring smooth lab operations.
Education
Ph.D. in Immunobiology -
Yale University
B.A. Human Biology, Concentration in Developmental Biology -
Stanford University
Skills
- Leadership and Project Management: Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex projects, and drive strategic initiatives in drug development and immunology
- Technical Proficiency: Extensive experience with genetically modified mouse models, NSG strains, orthotopic and subcutaneous tumor models, and various in vitro techniques (T cell assays, gene manipulation, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy)
- Data Analysis: Proficient in data analysis workflows using R, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in research
- Regulatory Knowledge: Experienced in preparing research study reports for regulatory submissions (IND amendments)
- Innovation and Assay Development: Expertise in developing and validating novel assays, improving screening processes and outcomes
- Collaboration and Communication: Strong ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and communicate complex scientific concepts effectively
Honors And Awards
- 2019 - Selected for Brief Talk at EMBO Mesenchymal cells in inflammation, immunity and cancer workshop.
- 2014 - Selected to attend Immunochemistry and Immunobiology Gordon Conference 2014.
- 2013 - Awarded Bursary To Young Immunologists for 15th International Congress of Immunology.
- 2012 - Recipient of Abstract Award at 99th Annual meeting of American Association of Immunologists.
- 2012-2014 - NIH supplement trainee grant 2012-2014
- 2009-2012 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Service Award 2009-2012
- 2009 - Ford Foundation Fellowship (declined)
- 2009 - National Science Foundation Fellowship 2009 (declined)
Technical Experience
- Extensive work with animal models of cancer and including the following:
- Genetically modified mouse models of pancreatic adenocarcinoma
- NSG mouse strains, xenographs, and PBMC engraftment.
- Orthotopic and subcutaneous models derived from pancreatic, breast, and colorectal tumors
- Familiar with the composition and kinetics of tumor growth and immune infiltrate of several models.
- Irradiation and bone marrow transfer.
- Experience with several BSL2+ infection models in mice;
- Acute and chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)
- Virulent and attenuated Listeria
- Influenza
- Vaccinia
- MRNA vaccines
- Experience with human and primate blood.
- Buffycoat
- Lymphopak processing
- Bead enrichment of T cell subsets
- Cryopreservation and thawing
- Experience with several in vitro techniques including:
- T cell stimulation, suppression and proliferation assays
- Lentiviral and retroviral gene manipulation techniques
- Chromatin and protein immunoprecipitation assays
- QRT-PCR
- Single-cell library preparation for the 10x genomics platform
- 2D and 3D cell culture of several cell types
- Flow Cytometry (up to 17 color)
- Cell sorting on BD machines
- Confocal microscopy
- CRISPR
- Formulation of mRNA vaccines
Publications
- Dominguez CX
- Astarita JL
- Tan C, Guillen J, Pauli ML, Labastida R, Valle J, Kleinschek M, Lyons J, Zarrin AA Tan C, Guillen J, Pauli ML, Labastida R, Valle J, Kleinschek M, Lyons J, Zarrin AA. Treg specialization and functions beyond immune suppression. Clin Exp Immunol. 2023. Review, Dominguez CX
- Müller S
- Keerthivasan S, Koeppen H, Hung J, Gierke S, Brear B, Foreman O, Bainbridge TW, Castiglioni A, Senbabaoglu Y, Modrusan Z, Liang Y, Junttila MR, Klijn C, Bourgon R, Turley SJ. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals stromal evolution into LRRC15+ myofibroblasts as a determinant of patient response to cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Discovery 2019., Dominguez CX
- Guan T
- Amezquita RA, Laidlaw BJ, Cheng J, Henao-Mejia J, Williams A, Flavell RA, Lu J, Kaech SM. ZEB1, ZEB2, and the miR-200 family form a counterregulatory network to regulate CD8+ T cell fates. J Exp Med. 2018., Dominguez CX
- Amezquita RA
- Marshall HD, Joshi NS, Kleinstein SH, Kaech SM. The transcription factors ZEB2 and T-bet cooperate to program cytotoxic T cell terminal differentiation in response to LCMV viral infection. J Exp Med. 2015., Kapoor, VN, et al. Gremlin 1+ fibroblastic niche maintains dendritic cell homeostasis in lymphoid tissues. Nat Immun. 2021., Buechler MB, et al. A Stromal Niche Defined by Expression of the Transcription Factor WT1 Mediates Programming and Homeostasis of Cavity-Resident Macrophages. Immunity 2019., Yoshida H, et al. The cis-Regulatory Atlas of the Mouse Immune System. Cell 2019., Pikor NB, et al. Integration of Th17- and Lymphotoxin-Derived Signals Initiates Meningeal-Resident Stromal Cell Remodeling to Propagate Neuroinflammation. Immunity 2015., Chen JH, et al. Prostaglandin E2 and programmed cell death 1 signaling coordinately impair CTL function and survival during chronic viral infection. Nature Medicine 2015., Joshi NS, et al. Increased numbers of preexisting memory CD8 T cells and decreased T-bet expression can restrain terminal differentiation of secondary effector and memory CD8 T cells. JI 2011., Monk, KR, et al. A G protein-coupled receptor is essential for Schwann cells to initiate myelination. Science 2009.
References
References Upon Request
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Principal Scientist
TrexBio
03.2023 - Current
Senior Scientist
TrexBio
01.2022 - 03.2023
Senior Scientist I
Gritstone Oncology
12.2019 - 01.2022
Postdoctoral Research fellow
Genentech
11.2014 - 12.2019
Research Assistant
Stanford University
08.2004 - 01.2007
Ph.D. in Immunobiology -
Yale University
B.A. Human Biology, Concentration in Developmental Biology -
Stanford University
Similar Profiles
Mariana OsegueraMariana Oseguera
Assistant Gymnastics Teacher at Ruby's TumblingAssistant Gymnastics Teacher at Ruby's Tumbling
CALVIN R. GIBBSCALVIN R. GIBBS
Sr. Projet Manager - Digital Energy Solutions at Larsen & ToubroSr. Projet Manager - Digital Energy Solutions at Larsen & Toubro
Annica HallAnnica Hall
Senior Benefits Analyst at Delta Dental Of CaliforniaSenior Benefits Analyst at Delta Dental Of California
Christopher S. SummersChristopher S. Summers
Director of Operations at Red and White FleetDirector of Operations at Red and White Fleet
Prerona GoonPrerona Goon
Principal Scientist at GSKPrincipal Scientist at GSK