MATTHEW LANAHAN

Oh Lab (Sep 2024 – current)

• Identifying bacterial factors that regulate Staphylococcus infection progression through the CRISPRi system.
• Determine bacterial factors that regulate host immune priming to prevent viral infection using 3D air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures.

Horner Lab (July 2023-October 2024)

• Uncovered host antiviral interactions using mammalian cells engineered to express RNA-editing proteins.
• Mapped viral RNA modifications using techniques such as GLORI-seq, TRIBE-seq, DART-seq, and Nanopore.
• Developed a streamlined sequencing method to detect the full-length HCV genome through Sanger sequencing and amplicon sequencing.

• Led a team of 10 members in the preclinical development of new oncolytic virus candidates to treat solid tumors.
• Developed and optimized multiple assays for drug screening, such as viral potency, viral selectivity, viral entry, and viral replication in primary cells.
• Organized timelines, facilitated team meetings, and coordinated individual tasks and responsibilities.
• Communicated program updates to the project group, senior leadership team, and board of directors.

• Contributed to the successful development and IND submission of an oncolytic virus used to treat solid tumors.
• Developed and optimized pharmacology assays for drug toxicity in over 20 different primary cell types.
• Collaborated with an external CRO to determine viral potency and off-target effects using a Liver-on-chip cell model.
• Developed release assays such as viral TCID50 and drug substance purity, in conjunction with the Process Development team.

• Uncovered mutations in Coxsackievirus B3, an important human pathogen with the potential to cause diseases such as myocarditis.
• Identified viral lifecycle areas that serve as druggable targets, such as altered RNA release using a mutant virus.
• Determined viral tropism and biodistrubution through in vivo mouse studies and tissue collection.

• Supported gene therapy and CAR-T cell therapy efforts by producing gene editing nucleases.
• Optimized nuclease editor designs through directed evolution, PCR, and plasmid purification.