Uksha Saini

Technical Skills

• Very well versed in mouse survival surgeries , in vivo implanting tumors into mice (orthotopic in brain using stereotactic frame, ovary by exposing ovaries, and in flank), intratumoral subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injections, intratibial, drug dosing, perform caliper measurements of tumors, processing the tumors for immunophenotyping,
• In vitro assays, ex vivo, syngeneic and PDX in vivo tumor models based evaluation of efficacy of oncolytic virus (HSV and AAV) candidates and/or other therapeutics in brain and peripheral nerve sheath tumors and ovarian cancer models
• Successful tracking and delivery of EVs in mouse tumor models
• Computational biology skills like RNAseq, single cell seq and CyTOF, analyses using Cytobank, Omiq, Loupe
• Hands on survival surgeries experience for mouse brain tumor (orthotopic and flank based) and ovarian cancer syngeneic as well as PDX models
• Experienced in designing and conducting experiments using Multicolor flow cytometry (14 color) for lymphoid and myeloid immune cell phenotyping, routine and biomarker testing, using Attune Nxt Flow Cytometer, data collection and analyses using Flowjo and Attune Software and plotting histograms using PRISM
• Phase contrast, fluorescence and Confocal microscopy, IVIS imaging, Sony flow sorter, Cytation 5
• Expertise in molecular and cellular biology of immune cells, design and performing functional assays,
• Expertise in studies on DNA/RNA/protein expression (qPCR, RT-qPCR, Western Blot, Southern blot and ELISA) and cell biology
• Isolating and culturing macrophages and NK cells from PBMCs and functional assays like ADCC, ADCP, CDC
• Hands-on expertise in T-cell functional characterization assays as in vitro cytotoxicity, proliferation, cytokine measurement
• CTL killing assays, Peptide pulsing and tetramer staining
• Immunohistochemistry, histology, In situ hybridisation
• Cell based assays, luciferase and enzymatic assays
• 7 years of Exosome isolation from various primary and immortalized cell lines, human CSF, blood; mouse blood
• Characterization of exosomes using nanosight, immunoblotting and nano-flow cytometer

• Loading the Extracellular Vesicles (EVs/exosomes) by active and passive methods with cytokines, oligonucleotides, AAV, HSV, chemokines or chemotherapeutic agents
• Biomarker assays on exosomes
• Nanosight
• Genetic modifications/gene therapy for gene inhibition or augmentation in cells including vector design, cloning and transfections, electroporation, lentivirus mediated transformation, shRNA and SSO mediated manipulations, site directed mutagenesis
• Knowledge of Fc Receptor signaling, Antigen presenting cell biology, MHC-I/MHC-ll peptide presentation in APC, immune checkpoint signaling
• Hands on isolation, characterisation, culturing and functional assays of primary immune cells (T cells, NK cells) from tumors and spleens as well as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from femurs, primary cell culture from mouse muscles and human patient ascites and using enrichment kits for cell subtype isolation
• Demonstrated lab technical knowledge, document organization, presentation and writing skills
• Proficient in standard scientific software used for data analysis (Microsoft Excel, Prism, R) as well as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint

Leadership skills

Lead, interpret, troubleshoot, supervise and present multiple cross-functional research drug discovery projects ranging from small molecule inhibitors, oncolytic viruses and exosome mediated cargo delivery

• 10 years of experience in overseeing, managing and directing research lab activities, including experimental planning, processing, troubleshooting, analysis and supervising, training, mentoring and managing other lab members, validation and implementation of new procedures and working with vendors, write and follow Standard Operating Procedures, effective oral and written presentation skills, maintaining adequate lab inventory
• Efficiently communicate and collaborate within and across multidisciplinary research and clinical teams as well as amongst institutions and organizations and build consensus
• Talented in guiding all functions related to research studies, analysis, reviewing quality control, reporting and writing grants and manuscripts, writing, revising and managing IACUC and IRB protocols in a timely, accurate and efficient manner
• Accurate maintenance of records of procedures in clear, concise, understandable and reproducible manner
• Troubleshooting to identify and correct the roadblocks related to sample preparation and accurate communication of outcomes
• Detail oriented, Critical thinker, problem solver and detail oriented, ability to meet aggressive deadlines
• Work extremely well under pressure and drive projects that impact critical timelines