Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Conference Presentations
Eligibility
Awards
Publications
Timeline
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Szu-Jung Chen

Bronx,NY

Summary

As a distinguished Research Assistant Professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, I bring forth a robust background in oncology and neurosurgery research, underscored by a proven track record of leading innovative clinical studies in immuno-oncology therapies. I possess a deep understanding of clinical trial design, implementation, and monitoring, combined with expertise in regulatory compliance and manuscript preparation for high-impact publications and drug applications.
As a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, Davis, has equipped me with cutting-edge skills in biomedical engineering and internal medicine, focusing on the cellular mechanisms underlying cancer malignancy and the therapeutic potential of CAR-T cell therapy. This experience is further enriched by my tenure at National Cheng Kung University and the National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan, where I spearheaded pre-clinical research in oncology drug discovery and precision medicine.
I am proficient in a wide range of technical skills, including advanced microscopy, genetic and cellular biology techniques, and bioinformatics tools, complemented by my leadership in managing research projects and teams. My work has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications, contributing valuable insights into cancer biology and treatment strategies.
An award-winning researcher, I am also certified in various regulatory and technical competencies, ensuring the highest standards of research quality and safety. My dedication to advancing cancer research and treatment is driven by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and collaboration, making me a valuable asset to any research institution or biopharmaceutical company.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Research Assistant Professor

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
08.2023 - Current
  • Designs, implementation, and monitoring of clinical studies focused on long synthetic peptide vaccines within the realm of immuno-oncology therapy
  • Maintain specific records of research activity to include regulatory forms, drug dispensation records, case reports and consent forms
  • Prepare final reports, occasional manuscripts or publication, New Drug Applications (NDAs) and Biological License Applications (BLAs)
  • Plans clinical programs and develops a timetable, budget and resource analysis for clinical programs and personnel administration
  • Oversee research, technical and administrative staff, to include training, hiring, goal setting and distribution of workload
  • Establishes and maintains relationships with alliance partners, external companies, investigators, and opinion leaders to optimize performance on clinical trial activities.

Postdoctoral Researcher

University of California, Davis
08.2021 - 07.2023
  • Led and designed experiments to investigate the function of focal adhesive cluster of high affinity (HA) β-integrin in neutrophils utilizing microfluidic-based and generated tension gauge tethers Skin-on-a-chip model and conducting data analysis and interpretation
  • Participated in the development of the Avectas SOLUPORE device for CAR-T cell therapy, contributing to the preparation of integrated medical reports, INDs, Investigational Device Exemptions (IDEs), periodic reports, New Drug Applications (NDAs), Biological License Applications (BLAs), etc
  • Participates in design and writing of protocols, case report forms and informed consent forms for clinical trials.

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of California, Davis
08.2020 - 08.2021
  • Led and designed experiments to investigate the effects of cigarette smoke activating signaling in promoting cancer malignancy, utilized a 3D organotypic culture, and conducted RNA-seq data analysis with CROs and interpretation.

Postdoctoral Fellow

National Cheng Kung University
07.2019 - 07.2020
  • Designed and led in vitro assays for target validation and MOA studies to support small molecule-based oncology drug discovery in PDX model
  • Responsible for reviewing pre-clinical data
  • Contributed to grant proposal and data preparation
  • Contributed to the study of antibody and small molecule drug discovery for CNS and treatment for oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Project Manager

National Health Research Institutes
07.2016 - 07.2019
  • Led and designed experiments to investigate targeted therapies and precision medicines in peripheral neuropathy by utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 transgenic animal model
  • Generated a novel, small-molecule compound through high-content imaging-based screens to combat tumor development in immunology/ immuno-oncology studies
  • Established CRISPR/Cas9 cell lines for high-content imaging-based screen
  • Experience in excellent project management and strong project leadership skills with a result-focused mindset.

Internship (Medical Lab Technologist)

Taipei Medical University Hospital
07.2009 - 07.2010
  • Performed routine tests in medical laboratory to provide data for use in diagnosis and treatment of disease, ensuring validity and accuracy of test results
  • Performed calibration and troubleshooting on testing systems and instruments to ensure adherence to established standards of accuracy.

Education

Ph.D., Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences -

National Cheng Kung University
Tainan, Taiwan

MS, Molecular Medicine -

National Cheng Kung University
Tainan, Taiwan

BS, Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology -

Taipei Medical University
Taipei, Taiwan

Skills

  • Microscopy: Fluorescent, Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF), Super-Resolution (SRM), Confocal, High-Content Imaging, Live Cell Imaging
  • DNA, RNA extraction and PCR; RT-qPCR, Plasmid design, Cloning, miRNA, siRNA, reporter assays, CRISPR/Cas9, CRISPR/Cas9 Knock out/ Knock in Genetic animal model
  • Cell culture (Primary, PBMC isolation, hematopoietic stem cells, 2D, 3D, Organoid Cell Culture)
  • Immunofluorescence (IF), Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Chromatin Immunoprecipitation, Immunoprecipitation (IP)
  • Multi-color Flow Cytometry, Cell Sorting Flow Cytometry, Cytek's Aurora
  • ELISA, Luminex Assay, cytotoxicity, proliferation assays
  • Microarray, RNA Sequencing and ChIP-sequencing
  • Microfluidic technology, Tension gauge tethers (TGT) Skin-on-a-chip model
  • SOLUPORE Cell Engineering Technology
  • Preclinical Cancer model (Xenograft, Syngeneic, Orthotropic Models, IVIS imaging, Histological processing/sectioning (frozen, paraffin), tumor inoculation and measurements, drug administration by multiple routes IV, IP)
  • Mouse Behavioral Research (Locomotor activity, anxiety, Motor coordination, Pain tolerance, Memory tests)
  • Software skills: Microsoft office, GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, CorelDRAW, Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator, Image J, Imaris, Python

Certification

  • PCEP (Python Institute)
  • Python for Genomic Data Science (Johns Hopkins University)
  • Manufacture of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) for Human Use (PharmOut)
  • Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) (PharmOut)
  • Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) (PharmOut)
  • The 10 Golden Rules of GMP (PharmOut)
  • Good Record Keeping (GRK) (PharmOut)
  • Manufacture Of Sterile Medicinal Products (PharmOut)

Conference Presentations

  • A novel non-viral delivery strategy for gene engineering in primary human T cells for ex vivo cell therapy applications, 23rd Annual UC Systemwide Bioengineering Symposium, Berkeley, CA, USA, 06/22/2023 - 06/23/2023
  • Inhibition lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin S enzymatic activity alleviates oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy by regulating store-operated Ca2+ entry homeostasis, Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, San Diego, CA, USA, 04/24/2020 - 04/29/2020
  • Cathepsin S inhibition alleviates oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy through regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis, American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA, 03/29/2019 - 04/03/2019
  • Cathepsin S as a potential target in oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain, The 23rd Taiwan Joint Cancer Conference, Taipei, Taiwan, 05/05/2018 - 05/06/2018
  • Mechanistic basis of a combination D-penicillamine and platinum drugs synergistically inhibits tumor growth in oxaliplatin-resistant human cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, 11th International Conference of the Asia Clinical Oncology Society, Taipei, Taiwan, 05/02/2014 - 05/04/2014
  • Copper-Chelator Exerts Synergistic Interaction with Platinum Drugs through Modulating Copper Transporters in Oxaliplatin- resistant Human Gastric Cancer Cell, The 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, San Diego, CA, USA, 04/05/2014 - 04/09/2014
  • WWOX/WOX1 is essential in UV irradiation/frostbite-induced membrane bubbling, NCKU Research Conference, Tainan, Taiwan, 11/19/2012

Eligibility

Eligibility to work in the US with Permanent Resident Card

Awards

  • Merit Award of Joint Cancer Conference 2014 Taipei
  • Merit Award of Asia Clinical Oncology Society 2014 Taipei
  • Excellent Research Award of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 2012

Publications

  • Garcia G, Chen SJ, Westerland MR, Wu X, Hwang ST, Simon SI. Psoriatic Neutrophils Are Primed in Circulation for Enhanced β(2)-Integrin-Dependent Recruitment and Effector Function on E-Selectin and ICAM-1. J Invest Dermatol. 2023 Oct 23.
  • Morikis VA, Chen SJ, Madigan J, Jo MH, Werba LC, Ha T, and Simon SI. β2- Integrin Adhesive Bond Tension under Shear Stress Modulates Cytosolic Calcium Flux and Neutrophil Inflammatory Response. Cells 2022; doi:10.3390/cells11182822.
  • Chen SJ, Chen LH, Yeh YM, Lin CK, Lin PC, Huang HW, Shen MR, Lin BW, Lee JC, Lee CC, Lee YF, Chiang HC, and Chang JY. Targeting Lysosomal Cysteine Protease Cathepsin S Reveals Immunomodulatory Therapeutic Strategy for Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. Theranostics. 2021. doi:10.7150/thno.54793.
  • Liu J, Chen SJ, Hsu SW, Zhang J, Li JM, Yang David C., Gu Shenwen, Kent E. Pinkerton, Chen CH. MARCKS cooperates with NKAP to activate NF-kB signaling in smoke-related lung cancer. Theranostics. 2021. doi:10.7150/thno.53558.
  • Yang DC, Gu S, Li JM, Hsu SW, Chen SJ, Chang WH, Chen CH. Targeting the AXL Receptor in Combating Smoking-related Pulmonary Fibrosis. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 2021.
  • Lin HH, Chen SJ, Shen MR, Huang YT, Hsieh HP, Lin SY, Lin CC; Chang WS, Chang J Y. Lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin S is involved in cancer cell motility by regulating store-operated Ca2+ entry. BBA - Molecular Cell Research Apr 11, 2019.
  • Chen SJ, Kuo CC, Pan HY, Tsou TC, Yeh SC and Chang JY. Desferal regulates hCtr1 and transferrin receptor expression through Sp1 and exhibits synergistic cytotoxicity with platinum drugs in oxaliplatin-resistant human cervical cancer cells in vitro andin vivo. Oncotarget. 2016.
  • Chen SJ, Kuo CC, Pan HY, Tsou TC, Yeh SC and Chang JY. Mechanistic basis of a combination D-penicillamine and platinum drugs synergistically inhibits tumor growth in oxaliplatin-resistant human cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Biochemical pharmacology. 2015; 95(1):28-37.
  • Chen SJ, Lin PW, Lin HP, Huang SS, Lai FJ, Sheu HM, Hsu LJ and Chang NS. UV irradiation/cold shock-mediated apoptosis is switched to bubbling cell death at low temperatures. Oncotarget. 2015; 6(10):8007-8018.
  • Lee MH, Su WP, Wang WJ, Lin SR, Lu CY, Chen YA, Chang JY, Huang SS, Chou PY, Ye SR, Chen SJ, He H, Liu TH, Chou YT, Hsu LJ, Lai FJ, et al. Zfra activates memory Hyal-2+ CD3- CD19- spleen cells to block cancer growth, stemness, and metastasis in vivo. Oncotarget. 2015; 6(6):3737-3751.
  • Chen SJ, Huang SS, Chang NS (2013) Role of WWOX and NF-κB in lung cancer progression. Translational Respiratory Medicine 2015.
  • Chang JY, Chiang MF, Lin SR, Lee MH, He H, Chou PY, Chen SJ, Chen YA, Yang LY, Lai FJ, Hsieh CC, Hsieh TH, Sheu HM, Sze CI and Chang NS. TIAF1 self- aggregation in peritumor capsule formation, spontaneous activation of SMAD- responsive promoter in p53-deficient environment, and cell death. Cell death & disease. 2012; 3:e302.
  • Su WP, Chen SH, Chen SJ, Chou PY, Huang CC and Chang NS WW Domain- Containing Oxidoreductase is a Potential Receptor for Sex Steroid Hormones. Dubey, Raghvendra, ed. 2012. Sex Hormones. InTech. doi:10.5772/1313.

Timeline

Research Assistant Professor

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
08.2023 - Current

Postdoctoral Researcher

University of California, Davis
08.2021 - 07.2023

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of California, Davis
08.2020 - 08.2021

Postdoctoral Fellow

National Cheng Kung University
07.2019 - 07.2020

Project Manager

National Health Research Institutes
07.2016 - 07.2019

Internship (Medical Lab Technologist)

Taipei Medical University Hospital
07.2009 - 07.2010

Ph.D., Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences -

National Cheng Kung University

MS, Molecular Medicine -

National Cheng Kung University

BS, Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology -

Taipei Medical University
Szu-Jung Chen