Jitendra Pant, PhD, ME

• Highly experienced and Dynamic Biomedical Scientist with 15+ years of expertise (7+ years in industry + 8 years in academic research) in Clinical and Translational Research, Device Immunology, Biocompatible Invasive Biomedical Devices, In vitro Biology, FDA approved Immunotherapeutic (Cancer and Autoimmune disorders), Upstream Process Development, Antibacterial, and Antithrombotic Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering applications, Macro and Microencapsulation technology for making artificial pancreas for T1D treatment.
• Co-founder and Director (2017-2020) of Biomedical Startup: Experienced in Business Development (BD) and Product Development (PD); Lead Innoveta Biomedical LLC, GA; attracted funding from NIH, CDC, GRA, and US DoD (around USD 3 million in one year).
• Worked in Multinational and Multicultural Environment 4 major companies and 8 R1 Academic Research Institutions in India, Germany, and the US. (Doctoral Valedictorian)
• Innovator and Highly Productive Researcher with 7 biomedical device patent applications filed at USPTO (4 approved),
• Excellent Oral and Written Communications Skills demonstrated through 18 Scientific Conferences, 25 peer-reviewed Publications, 4 Conference Abstracts, >50 Grant Submissions, SOPs, TTDs, Reports
• Establish Experts in Translational & Clinical Research with 2 TEDx talks, Features in 11 Leading News Papers, 1 Podcast, 1 News channel, and 2 Magazine Articles, and >20 invited Capacity Building Seminars as Keynote Speaker
• Proceed Development, Tech Transfer, cGMP, IND, and FDA Approval: Contributed to the upstream process development of the world's first anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody for Psoriasis treatment (Alzumab/Itolizumab) and the world's first biosimilar for Trastuzumab (Canmab) for breast cancer treatment both of which are now FDA approved. Itolizumab is current used in India for treating COVID-19 complications. —Biocon Research Ltd India +Mylan, US

Jan’ 2017- Current Invited Reviewer for 19 journals (60+ manuscripts)

May 2017-Aug' 2017 Visiting Scholar, Medical College of Georgia, GA

Project: Translational Research in Skin Cancer and Wound Healing

Jan' 2015-May 2015 Exchange Scholar between University of Georgia, US + BITS-Pilani, India

Translational Research on Blood Contracting Device Related Infections

Dec' 2014-Jan' 2015 Trainee, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, India

Silkworm derived Silk based 3D Scaffolds and Fibers

Jan' 2014- Jan' 2014 Trainee, Winter Institute in Global Health organized by Apollo

Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and BITS- Pilani, India

Dec' 2013-Jan' 2014 Visiting Scientist, National Brain Research Center (NBRC), Manesar, India

Cell and Molecular tools on Glial Cells and Neuron

Sep' 2013-Sep'2013 Visiting Scientist, University of Wurzburg, Germany

International Exchange Scholar, Modern Methods in Infection Biology

• Areas of Expertise: Translational Research, Implants, Biomaterials, Immunotherapeutic for Oncology and Autoimmune Disorders (mAb, recombinant, and fusion proteins), Type 1 Diabetes, Drug Discovery, Biopharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Devices, Bioreactors, Fermenters, In vitro and In vivo research, BioImaging
• Biomedical Engineering related to Type 1 Diabetes: Beta-cell therapy, Microfluidics, Spheroids, Organoids, Hydrogel, Microencapsulation, Macroencapsulation, Confocal Imaging, Immunostaining, Immunoisolation, Artificial Pancreas, In vivo Mouse Animal Models
• Biopharmaceutical Analytical skills: UHPLC, HPLC (Affinity, Reverse Phase, Hydrophobic interaction, SEC), Biochemical Analyzer (Glucose, glutamate), Blood Gas Analyzer, Vi-Cell, Osmomat, and CEDEX, Cell metabolism study (using HPLC), Bioreactor (Fed-batch & continuous), Confocal Imaging (Z stack), High Throughput Screening (HTS)
• Cell Culture: 3D organoid Tissue Culture, 2D adherent culture, Fed-Batch Bioreactor (0.5 L- 10L), Multi-fermenter Controlling System (MFCS), Cell metabolism studies, Shake flask Culture, Adherent Cell Culture, Suspension Cell Culture, Neuro Cell Culture (Progenitor, Astrocytes, and Neuronal), subculture and inoculum maintenance, media optimization, feed design; Cytotoxicity assay, Nanodrop, Microwell plating, Vial thawing, Culture Maintenance, Cryopreservation and Aseptic handling (BSL2).
• Polymer Chemistry: Fabrication and characterization of polymer composites, 3D tissue scaffolds fabrication, Catheter fabrication, Nitric oxide release study, FTIR, contact angle, AFM, Wound dressing, Stimuli-responsive materials, multifunctional biomaterials and biomedical devices, drug delivery vehicles, vascular catheters, ultra-slippery surfaces, 3D bone scaffolds, packaging materials, self-folding polymers
• Protein Engineering: Protein Expression, Purification, Dialysis, RAPD, RFLP, Restriction Map, Protein isolation
• Molecular Biology Techniques: RNA isolation, plasmid Isolation, Transformation, PCR, RT-PCR, ELISA, Electrophoresis, Protein estimation, Western Blotting, Immunostaining
• Microbiology: Bioreactor studies, Bacterial Adhesion Assay, Zone of Inhibition, Pour Plate Culture, Streaking Culture, Bacterial transformation, Plasmid isolation, Antibacterial Assays, CFUs
• Computer/ Bioinformatics: Image J, GraphPad, Prism, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, MS Word, BLAST, Biomolecular Modeling, Fiji, Adobe Illustrator, MATLAB, AutoCAD
• Leadership & Managerial Skills: Event Organization, Business Development, Collaboration, Product Development, Technology Transfer, Project Management: Biotech/Biomedical/Pharma, Training, Public Speaker, Publications, Grant Writing (Reports, Protocols, SOPs, Federal and International Research Grants including SBIRs, and R01), Collaboration, Leadership Seminars, and Workshop, Data Management, Reports, Publications and Patents, Quality Assurance Controls, Experiment Design: GMP, In vitro and In vivo studies Converting Leads, Process Development, Cross-functional Teams Leadership, Collaboration, Recruitment & Training

2020-2021 R43/44 National Institute of Health, Phase I-Small Business

Innovation Research (SBIR) grant. Role: PI (Phase I: $150,000)

2019-2020 Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Phase I- Small Business

Innovation Research (SBIR) grant. Role: Co-I ($150,000 phase I), ($1.4M Phase II)

2019-2020 National Science Foundation, SBIR

Role: PI ($100,000). Project pitch accepted.

2019-2020 Georgia Research Alliance

Role: Co-I ($25,000)

2018-2020 US Department of Defense (DoD) Contract Award

Role: PI ($100,000)

Oct' 2019 United States–India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF)

Role: PI, representing US side ($400,000)

Jan' 2020 National Institute of Health, Fast Track Phase II-SBIR (NIA)

Role: Co-I ($2.8 M) (NHLBI Impact score 29)

2015-2021 Authored in >50 Grants for funded NIH (R01, R21), CDC, DoD, HHMI,

and NSF for PhD Mentor at UGA: Amount to > 10 M USD cumulative

(testimonial available from PI)

SLECTED LIST (OUT OF TOTAL 35 AWARDS AND HONORS)

• Funded Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator for federal grants (cumulative $3 Million in funding) from National Institutes of Health, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia Research Alliance, and US Department of Defense (>$3 Million)
• UGA 40 under 40 lists, only one nominee from UGA College of Engineering (pending). May 2021
• Postdoctoral Professional Development Award. Only 9 postdocs were selected from a pool of 1500+ postdocs at the University of Michigan. Dec' 2020
• 2 Times TEDx Speaker (April 2019; Nov 2018). Shared Stage with NFL Player Mitchel Malcolm (>2500 audience)
• President Award for Excellence in Research Award in Professional and Applied Science ($1000). Competition level: 1 out of all graduate alumni of UGA. April 2019
• University of Georgia Travel and Research Award ($1400). Competition level: only 5 graduate students in the College of Engineering. Nov' 2018 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Student Travel Award ($500). Competition level: Top 1% applicant in the nation. Oct' 2018
• Georgia Bio-Innovation Award for Best Presentation, Special Visit by CDC Director Dr. Redfield ($300). Competition level: Only 1 in the category awarded (out of >100 applicants). Oct' 2018
• Chair's Award for Excellence in Graduate Research for Best Publication Record ($1000) Competition level: only 2 graduate students in the College of Engineering. April 2018
• Brahma P. Verma Award for Leadership and Academic Excellence ($1000). Competition level: 1 out of all UGA Engineering graduate students. April 2018
• International Travel Award for UGA-BITS Exchange Student ($8250). Competition Level: Only 1 student was selected from the entire Graduate Department at BITS. Jan' 2015
• University of Wurzburg Global Travel Award, Germany to attend Winter Institute in Infection Biology', at the University of Wurzburg ($3500). Only 25 Professionals were selected worldwide (3 given grants). Sept' 2013
• Invited Capacity Building Keynote Speaker for 20 Seminars in >15 institutions globally.
• Featured in News, Podcast, Magazines, and News Papers >10 times (proofs available on request).
• · Biomedical Engineering Society Research Award (BMES). Oct’ 2016

Postdoc 180 Degree Award-Type 1 Diabetes

Invited Speaker, Career Counselling, BITS-Pilani University, India. June 2021

Nominee UGA 40 under 40, only one nominee from UGA College of Engineering (pending). May 2021

Keynote Panelist (total 3), University of Michigan. April 2021

Invited Speaker, Capacity Building Series, Shivaji University, Maharashtra, India. April 2021

Professional Development Award, University of Michigan. Jan’ 2021

Dec’ 2020 Top 9 finalist in Postdoc 180 Oral presentation competition, University of Michigan

Oct’ 2020 Invited Speaker, Bazigar Career Building Seminar, GB Pant University, India

Apr’ 2020 PI grant awarded by NHLBI ($150,000)

Apr’ 2019 President’s Award for Excellence in Research in Professional and Applied Sciences

University-wide award given to only 3 UGA graduate/year among 250 graduate programs

Mar’2019 TEDx Speaker, “Advancing Healthcare by saying yes to (N)itric (O)xide”. First-ever TEDx speaker

from the College of Engineering, UGA. Shared stage with NFL Player Mitchell Malcolm

Mar’ 2019 Senior Judge and Chair of the team of 12 Judges at Georgia Science and Engineering Fair

Feb’ 2019 Best Engineering Alumni Award, ICFAI University, India

Dec’ 2018 Valedictorian Convocation Speaker. College of Engineering. Only 1 student speaker selected (by vote)

Nov’ 2018 One of the four keynote speakers (along with President and Dean) at the groundbreaking of I-STEM Building, University of Georgia

Nov’ 2018 Idea Showcase Winner at TEDx UGA (Top 3 out of 200 applicants)

Oct’ 2018 BMES Research and Travel Award ($500) by Biomedical Engineering Society, US-top 1%

Oct’ 2018 Georgia Bio-Innovation Award by CDC Director Dr. Redfield ($500)

Aug’ 2018 Research & Travel Grant ($1400), College of Engineering, University of Georgia

Aug’ 2018 Award for Excellence in Mentorship in Nano REU Program

May 2018 Travel Grant for best publication record ($1000), University of Georgia, US

Mar’ 2018 Chair’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Research ($500), UGA (only 2 awards each year)

Mar’ 2018 Brahma P. Verma Award for Academic and Leadership Excellence (UGA-Best Ph.D. Student in all Engineering Departments (only 1 award each year)

Mar’ 2018 Junior Judge, Georgia Science, and Engineering Foundation (GSEF), US

Feb’ 2018 Multiple Motivational Seminars featured by 5 leading newspapers in India

Dec’ 2017 Featured cover-page article in Graduate School Magazine Winter 2018 issue

Nov’2017 Award for Exceptional Achievement in Communication by Toastmasters

Apr’ 2017 Top 3 finalist (University-wide), 3-Minute Thesis Competition (3MT), UGA

Aug’ 2017 Best Graduate Oral Presentation Award, University of Georgia, US

Feb’ 2016 Multiple invited talks featured by 3 leading newspapers in India

Aug’ 2015 Graduate Research Assistant, UGA College of Engineering

Jan’ 2015 Fully funded Visiting Scholar (Indo-US), University of Georgia, US-BITS University ($8250)

Apr’ 2014 GATE Research Fellowship, Ministry of Human Resource and Development, India

May’ 2014 Research support for researching at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, OH

Sep’ 2013 Travel Award University of Wurzburg, Germany. Travel award of €2000 = $2230 given to

top 3 among 25 global finalists

Feb’ 2012 Best Employee Award, Process Development Team, Biocon, India

Jul’ 2012 Promotion to the Scientist position within 1 year (from Junior Executive), Biocon

Mar’ 2010 GATE Research Fellowship, Ministry of Human Resource and Development, India

Jun’ 2009 All India Rank, 209, Junior Level, Biotechnology Talent Search Competition

Mar’ 2010 GATE Research Fellowship, Ministry of Human Resource and Development, India

Jun’ 2009 All India Rank, 209, Junior Level, Biotechnology Talent Search Competition

• Excellent communications skills and ability to effectively interact with both scientific and non-scientific audiences/clients.
• Keynote speaker in >20 capacity Building Seminars/workshops in >15 institutions globally
• 18 Scientific Conferences including Awarded Presentations at BMES, SFB, and GeorgiaBio (special visit by CDC Director). Invited in >5 countries.
• Presented 2 TEDx talks (on Antibiotic resistance and Device-Drug Immunology)
• Experience in preparing Technical Transfer documentation (TTD), Reports, SOPs, Manuel, Manuscripts, Presentation, On-pager, Grant and Elevator Pitch
• Written >50 Grants for Federal funding agencies with a very high success rate receiving funding from NIH, CDC, GRA, US DoD
• Editorial Board Member for 5 Scientific Journals and reviewer for 19 STEM journals (reviewed 60+ manuscripts)
• Total 7 patents (4 granted)
• Patented Applications: Vascular and Urinary Catheters, Drug-Delivery, Food Packaging, Wound Dressings, Device Coatings, Covalent Cross-linking, Gasotransmitters (Nitric Oxide). Google Patent Profile
• Total 29 Publications (25 full articles + 4 abstracts): 530 citations, I-10 index=15; h index = 14
• Research Areas: Biomedical Devices, Tissue Engineering, Organoids, Artificial organs, Regenerative Medicine, Antibacterial and Anti-thrombotic platforms, Nitric oxide, 3D Bone Scaffolds, Extracorporeal circuits, Wound dressings, Environmental Toxicology, and Biocompatible Technologies
• Published in First author papers in Advanced Functional Materials (IF-16.5), ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces (IF-8.5), Acta Biomaterialia (IF 7.5), Nature Scientific Materials
• Google Scholar Profile