Robert William Figliozzi
Summary
Father of Firsts, Angel of Aging, Seer of Science, Tutor of Toxicology, Instrument of Inflammation, Niche of Neurons, Guardian of Good
Analytical Research Scientist with 15 years in designing, conducting and sharing results of complex research. I am seeking worthy science roles that will leverage my diverse expertise, portfolio of intellectual property, conscientiousness, emotional intelligence, charisma, and entrepreneurial experience. I identify as a Multi-Race Caucasian, US Citizen, Non-Veteran, Male and prefer the pronouns, he, him and his.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
09.2023 - Current
I lead transformative research in the fight against aging-related diseases. My approach combines animal models, novel in vitro assays, and a diverse toolkit of cutting-edge techniques
- Biomarker Discovery: Meticulously identify and characterize novel biomarker panels, including Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) and Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) within aged murine cohorts
- Functional Immunogenic Biomarkers: I challenge ex-vivo gingival fibroblast stem cell cultures with these endogenous functional immunogenic biomarkers, previously isolated and characterized, to understand their impact on cellular responses in vitro
- Mapping Immunogenic Profiles: Employing a repertoire of both classic and novel molecular and cellular biology assays, I map the immunogenic, collagenic, and damage-repair profiles of young and aged mouse cells
- Techniques include ELISA, Western Blot, nucleic gel shift assays, ddPCR, RTqPCR, ChIP-qPCR, histone profiling, and nucleic sequencing technologies
- Additionally, I utilize plasmid cloning-based reporter assay systems, analysis of gene expression data and transcriptomics to identify sequence variants, high-throughput robotic liquid handling, fluorescent cell imaging, cell sorting, and microfluidic tools
- Unveiling Novel Therapeutic Targets: As we elucidate the mechanisms underlying these observed phenomena, we concurrently identify novel therapeutic targets for age-related diseases
- Our ultimate goal is to develop complementary diagnostics and stem cell exosome mimetic therapies
- Impact and Future Prospects: Our preliminary results feature prominently in multiple co-authored multi-institutional grant applications
- Optimized existing protocols for increased reproducibility while minimizing variations across multiple experiments conducted simultaneously.
- Assisted with laboratory maintenance tasks such as ordering supplies and equipment calibration, ensuring smooth daily operations.
- Provided guidance to junior researchers on experimental design, troubleshooting issues, and interpretation of results.
- Research manuscripts, intended for publication in high-impact factor peer-reviewed scientific journals later this year, are currently in progress
- Notably, we have discovered key age-related de-methyl nucleic acid markers that activate several immune pathways, including PRRs, TLRs, and the chemokine cascade.
Director of Research and Development
IES Lifesciences
10.2018 - 01.2023
- Human Interferon Transcriptomic Signatures of Autoimmune and Pathogenic Disease – I was responsible for developing and running the scientific activities of the business including overseeing the tech transfer from the FDA to university, clinical, and industry collaborators seeking to develop diagnostic solutions for difficult to diagnose and treat diseases
- I received an NSF iCorps fellowship and $100,000 MIPS funded collaboration with UMES
- I participated in twenty funding campaign roadshows and business exhibitions.
- Developed new products for market introduction, resulting in a significant increase in company revenue.
- Managed cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality research solutions within tight deadlines.
- Introduced cutting-edge technologies into the R&D process, enhancing overall productivity and innovation capabilities.
- Established strong relationships with industry partners, fostering collaboration on joint research ventures.
- Secured funding for research projects through successful grant proposals and partnerships with external organizations.
- Expanded patent portfolio by identifying valuable intellectual property assets and guiding their successful registration process.
- Led major cost-saving initiatives within the department without sacrificing quality or customer satisfaction levels.
- Negotiated contracts with suppliers to secure favorable terms for raw materials procurement, reducing overall production costs.
- Liaised with key stakeholders to understand business requirements and expectations and develop strategic direction to R&D performance materials.
- Leveraged data and insights to inform conclusions and support decision-making.
- Managed senior-level personnel working in marketing and sales capacities.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
Scientific Recruiting Consultant
Recruitomics Consulting LLC
09.2021 - 04.2022
- Recruited talented bioinformatics, computer, genetic, immunologic, and virologist scientists for 40 leading biotech startup clients across the US while developing their DEI and HR programs.
- Participated in networking events and career fairs to strengthen company presence within the industry.
- Enhanced employer branding initiatives by partnering with marketing teams on social media campaigns targeting potential candidates.
- Facilitated timely feedback between clients and candidates throughout the interview process, ensuring transparent communication at all stages.
- Improved client satisfaction by efficiently managing the full-cycle recruitment process, including screening, interviewing, and selecting top talent.
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Chief Scientific Officer
Hempothic LLC
05.2019 - 09.2021
- Chemical and in vitro Analysis of Hemp Extracts and Synergistic Formulations Consulting - I develop scientific lines of business for six existing and startup businesses.
Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory Coordinator/Instructor
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
08.2020 - 08.2021
- Pharmaceutics- Sterile Products- Compounding
Adjunct Faculty
Salisbury University
01.2020 - 12.2020
- Laboratory- Anatomy & Physiology
Adjunct Faculty – Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
01.2020 - 05.2020
- Neuroscience Anatomy & Physiology
- Work and Research
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Sciences
01.2012 - 01.2020
- Dissertation: Suppression of Herpes Virus Infections by Thyroid Hormone Directed Transcription Regulation and Signal Pathway Modulation
- I developed dozens of research and biotech analytical methods, systems, and innovations ready for commercial development
- Initiated and won $100,000 MIPS award and industry partnership for the lab
- My works resulted in four new lines of collaborative research and funding for the department as well as a dozen peer reviewed publications in scientific journals.
Chief Scientific Officer
Bio Research Solutions
03.2016 - 01.2018
- Automated Live Zebrafish Specimen Identification, Cataloging, and Data Analysis Systems - I Raised $75,000 in nondilutive funding from SU and other business development programs and built 5 working prototypes currently in development at UMES and Salisbury University.
Analytical Laboratory Technician
05.2011 - 12.2011
- The City of Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant
- I analyzed influent and effluent plant products for BOD, Nutrients, Chlorine, microbiology, and mass
- Identified numerous procedural solutions to improve reporting accuracy and reduce MDE fees.
Undergraduate Student Research Assistant
Salisbury University
09.2009 - 09.2011
- Hetero-Cyclic Ring Formation Synthesis and Characterization of Potential Alzheimer's Treating Indoles
Undergraduate Student Research Assistant
Salisbury University, Sciences
01.2011 - 05.2011
- DNA Isolation, amplification and sequencing of PPFM Bacteriophages
Summer Undergraduate Student Research Assistant
Salisbury University
06.2010 - 08.2010
- The Role of Adiponectin Receptor Protein Extracellular Loops in Adiponectin Binding
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Toxicology
University of Maryland Eastern
11.2020
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Salisbury University
05.2011
Skills
- Assay Development
- In vivo murine models
- RT-qPCR, cell free DNA, BSL-2
- High Throughput Screening
- Cell Signaling, Epigenetics
- Cell Culture, Cloning, Genetic Engineering
- Molecular and Cell Biology
- Immunological Methods, Virological Methods
- Neuro-biochemistry and Culture
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Molecular Modeling/Docking
- Organic Synthesis, In silico Drug Design
- Natural Product Chemistry, New Drug Discovery
- Lead Generation, Drug Formulations
- Drug and Biochemical Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry and Chromatography
- GCMS, LCMS, HPLC, Water Chemistry Analysis
- ELISA, Western Blot, nucleic gel shift assays
- ddPCR, RTqPCR, ChIP-qPCR, histone profiling
- Nucleic sequencing technologies
- Plasmid cloning-based reporter assay systems
- Analysis of gene expression data and transcriptomics
- High-throughput robotic liquid handling
- Fluorescent cell imaging, cell sorting, microfluidic tools
- Teaching experience
- Classroom Instruction
Scientific Skills:
Teaching and Management Skills:
- Laboratory Management
- Team Management and Training
- Experimental design
- Quantitative Research
- Scientific Writing
- Laboratory techniques
- Research Support
- Bioinformatics Analysis
- Technical consulting
- Technical Writing
- Qualitative Research
- Research
- Deep Science Research
- Experimental Work Plans
- Fundraising
- Professional Networking
- Statistical Modeling
- Entrepreneurship
- Recruiting
- Plumbing
- Electronics
- Languages: English
- Data Science
- Project Management
- Technical Presentations
Research Skills:
Other Skills:
Affiliations
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, American Chemical Society, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySkills & Activities, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, American Chemical Society, American Society Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Accomplishments
Awards & Grants
Nov 2021 NSF iCorps Scientific Entrepreneurship Fellow
May 2019 University of Maryland MIPS Grant
Jan 2019 Distill Ventures Non-Alcoholic Bursary
Oct 2017 Award: Shore Hatchery Entrepreneurship Award, Salisbury University
Apr 2016 Award: Shore Hatchery Entrepreneurship Award, Salisbury University
Apr 2013 Award: Joseph M. Okoh Best Presentation Award, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Aug 2012 Grant: REGULATION OF HSV-1 GENE EXPRESSION AND REPLICATION BY NUCLEAR HORMONE RECEPTORS
Jun 2010 Award: Guerrieri Undergraduate Research Summer Stipend, Salisbury University
Sep 2009 Scholarship: Junior Chemistry Scholar, Salisbury University
Feb 2009 Salisbury Undergraduate Research Grant: Synthesis of Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibiting Nordebromoflustramine B and its Enatiomer (+) - Nordebromoflustramine B
Journal Publications
Chen YC, Figliozzi RW, Hsia SV. Pilot Analyses of Interferon Subtype Expression Profiles in Patients with Herpes Zoster or Postherpetic Neuralgia. Viral Immunol. 2021 Sep;34(7):437-447. doi: 10.1089/vim.2020.0295. Epub 2021 Apr 15. PMID: 33857386; PMCID: PMC8563454.
Robert William Figliozzi, S. Victor Hsia: Reversing Thyroid Hormone Mediated Repression of a HSV-1 Promoter via Computationally Guided Mutagenesis. Journal of Cell Science 09/2017;
Robert W. Figliozzi, Feng Chen, S. Victor Hsia: New insights on thyroid hormone mediated regulation of herpesvirus infections. Cell and Bioscience 03/2017; 7(1)., DOI:10.1186/s13578-017-0140-z
Kevin Rochford, Feng Chen, Yan Waguespack, Robert W Figliozzi, Madan K Kharel, Qiaojuan Zhang, Miguel Martin-Caraballo, S Victor Hsia: Volatile Organic Compound Gamma-Butyrolactone Released upon Herpes Simplex Virus Type -1 Acute Infection Modulated Membrane Potential and Repressed Viral Infection in Human Neuron-Like Cells. PLoS ONE 08/2016; 11(8):e0161119., DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0161119
Feng Chen, Robert W Figliozzi, Gautam Bedadala, Jayavardhana Palem, S Victor Hsia: Overexpression of thyroid hormone receptor β1 altered thyroid hormone-mediated regulation of herpes simplex virus-1 replication in differentiated cells. Journal of NeuroVirology 02/2016; 22(5)., DOI:10.1007/s13365-016-0423-x
Robert William Figliozzi, Feng Chen, Albert Chi, Shao-Chung Victor Hsia: Using the inverse Poisson distribution to calculate multiplicity of infection and viral replication by a high-throughput fluorescent imaging system. Virologica Sinica 01/2016; 31(2)., DOI:10.1007/s12250-015-3662-8
Amakoe Ajavon, Dennis Killian, Randy Odom, Robert W. Figliozzi, Feng Chen, Matthew Balish, Jayesh Parmar, Robert Freeman, Jack Snitzer, S. Victor Hsia: Influence of Thyroid Hormone Disruption on the Incidence of Shingles. Epidemiology and Infection 04/2015; 143(16):1-15., DOI:10.1017/S0950268815000655
Robert W Figliozzi, Feng Chen, Matthew Balish, Amakoe Ajavon, S Victor Hsia: Thyroid Hormone-dependent Epigenetic Suppression of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Gene Expression and Viral Replication in Differentiated Neuroendocrine Cells. Journal of the Neurological Sciences 08/2014; 346(1-2)., DOI:10.1016/j.jns.2014.08.017
Gautam Bedadala, Feng Chen, Robert Figliozzi, Matthew Balish, Victor Hsia: Construction and Characterization of Recombinant HSV-1 Expressing Early Growth Response-1. 02/2014; 2014(8)., DOI:10.1155/2014/629641
Feng Chen, Jay Palem, Matthew Balish, Robert Figliozzi, Amakoe Ajavon, S Victor Hsia: A Novel Thyroid Hormone Mediated Regulation of HSV-1 Gene Expression and Replication is Specific to Neuronal Cells and Associated with Disruption of Chromatin Condensation. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 02/2014; 1(1):7.
S C Hsia, L P Graham, G R Bedadala, M B Balish, F Chen, R W Figliozzi: Induction of Transcription Factor Early Growth Response Protein 1 during HSV-1 Infection Promotes Viral Replication in Corneal Cells. 10/2013; 3(4):706-723., DOI:10.9734/BMRJ/2013/4817#sthash.mv5smQhR.dpuf
Miguel O Mitchell, Robert W Figliozzi, Mustafa Guzel: In Silico Ligand-Receptor Docking of Potentially Selective Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors Structurally Related to the Marine Natural Product Debromoflustramine B. Medicinal chemistry (Shāriqah (United Arab Emirates)) 05/2010; 6(3):141-3., DOI:10.2174/1573406411006030141
Presentations
In Vitro Neuromodulatory Effects of Characterized Cannabis Extracts: Medicinal and Toxicological Implications
September 4-6, 2019: Cannabis Science Conference West 2019, Portland, OR
Herpes: Why they keep coming back and how they fight cancer
Oct 15, 2015: The School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences Seminar Series, UMES Princess Anne, MD
Entry of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1) into the Distal Axons of Trigeminal Neurons Favors the Onset of Nonproductive, Silent Infection
Oct 12, 2014: Graduate Toxicology Seminar, UMES, Princess Anne, MD
Thyroid hormone treated, differentiated, human neuro-endocrine cells, exhibit hormone dependent viral gene silencing/reactivation similar to HSV-1 latent infection
Mar 2014: 5th Annual Virginia Regional Herpesvirus Symposium – VRHS 2014, Eastern Virginia School of Medicine
Posters
PAHLS: Pharmacological and Agricultural Hemp Laboratory Sciences
October 31, 2019: UMES Hemp Conference, Princess Anne, MD
Lexicon of Alphaherpesvirus Latency: The Words Used by Students, Experts, and Authors
May 17, 2017: 7th Annual Colorado Alphaherpesvirus Latency Symposium 2017
Measuring MOI and Viral Titer Using an Inverted Poisson's Equation and High Throughput Fluorescent Imaging
Apr 15, 2015 UMES School of Graduate Studies Regional Research Symposium 2015
Differentiated Human Neuro-Endrocrine Cells LNCaP Exhibit a Thyroid Hormone-Mediated Viral Gene Silencing/Reactivation
Jul 2013 38th IHW 2013 Grand Rapids Michigan
Thyroid Hormone Treated, Differentiated, Human Neuro-Endrocrine Cells, LNCaP, Exhibit a Chromatinized Hormone-Mediated Viral Gene Silencing/Reactivation Similar to HSV-1 Latent Infection
Sep 2012 Chromatin Control of Viral Infection Workshop
Thyroid Hormone Treated Differentiated Human Neuro-Endrocrine Cells LNCaP Exhibit a Hormone-Mediated Viral Gene Silencing/Reactivation Similar to HSV-1 Latent Infection
Aug 2012 37th International Herpes Workshop 2012
Timeline
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
09.2023 - Current
Scientific Recruiting Consultant
Recruitomics Consulting LLC
09.2021 - 04.2022
Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory Coordinator/Instructor
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
08.2020 - 08.2021
Adjunct Faculty
Salisbury University
01.2020 - 12.2020
Adjunct Faculty – Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
01.2020 - 05.2020
Chief Scientific Officer
Hempothic LLC
05.2019 - 09.2021
Director of Research and Development
IES Lifesciences
10.2018 - 01.2023
Chief Scientific Officer
Bio Research Solutions
03.2016 - 01.2018
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Sciences
01.2012 - 01.2020
Analytical Laboratory Technician
05.2011 - 12.2011
Undergraduate Student Research Assistant
Salisbury University, Sciences
01.2011 - 05.2011
Summer Undergraduate Student Research Assistant
Salisbury University
06.2010 - 08.2010
Undergraduate Student Research Assistant
Salisbury University
09.2009 - 09.2011
Doctor of Philosophy - Toxicology
University of Maryland Eastern
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
Salisbury University
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