Valerie Sampson
Wilmington,DE
Summary
Highly motivated, meticulous, and analytical Researcher with 15+ years of scientific expertise in designing and conducting cancer research, helping to create data driven results that build compelling insights about the efficacy of therapies. Independent worker or adaptive team member with in-depth knowledge of in vivo and in vitro efficacy models that are predictive of clinical outcomes, provide mechanistic insights and generate robust scientific information. Communicative Scientist proficient in [Skill]. Talented individual educated in safety procedures, processes and regulations. Pursuing role and leveraging exceptional technical knowledge to better satisfy customer needs.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Scientist II
WuXi AppTec, Advanced Therapy Unit
07.2022 - 10.2023
- RECOGNIZED FOR LEADING SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS FOR CLIENT-BASED PROGRAMS
- Executed Processes for the development of CAR-T cell therapies using instrumentation including, but not limited to, Prodigy, LOVO, Xuri, Sepax, Controlled Rate Freezer and NC-200 Analyzer
- Used closed bag and tubing systems for reagent and sample preparation
- Perform calculations as required by test methods
- Process laboratory results, generate reports and evaluations using computer-based programs for data analysis
- Applied analytical procedures (using compendial and client supplied analysis) and internal SOPs for processing
- Write work orders, validation procedures and reports
- Applied GMP/GLP standards for appropriate context for research and development programs
- Worked with Project Management, Planners and Materials Management to schedule all materials for projects
- Managed project team members for developmental runs for drug product
- Represented company in client forums for client reports and for updates to programs
Research Scientist
Nemours Children’s Health
01.2021 - 01.2022
- RECOGNIZED FOR ESTABLISHING CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES
- Key contributor to protocol designs and study operations for solid tumors and blood-based diseases for Pharmacokinetic and Toxicokinetic studies at Cancer Center
- Develop and execute analytical methods based on biochemical and immunological techniques to support diverse projects
- Knowledge of cGMP processes and requirements
- Proficient with ELISA, qPCR, SDS-PAGE, 2D-DIGE, confocal microscopy, basic and complex scientific techniques
- Record experimental results and perform descriptive data analyses for internal meetings, study reports and publications
- Ensure effective communication with line management of all ongoing project activities status, issues relating to programs and personnel
- Supervised and trained lab staff, post-doctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and residents
- Maintained a compliant work environment by staying current with SOPs, safety procedures, literature relevant to projects and novel analytical technologies
- Troubleshoot assays when they fail to meet performance specifications
- Supplied mechanistic insight and applied cellular and biochemical methods to identify p27 as a biomarker in osteosarcoma and other metastatic tumors
- Currier AW, Jeshurin MC, Sampson VB
- SARS-CoV-2 Targets and COVID-19 Vaccines
- COVID
- 2021
- Established protocols for isolating exosomes as liquid biopsies for osteosarcoma
Assistant Research Scientist II
Nemours Children’s Health
01.2012 - 12.2019
- Promoted in recognition of increased output, training, mentoring and management skills
- Led 3 pediatric cancer projects to assess efficacy and safety of cell therapies, leading to internationally cited research publications
- Established and managed project collaborations with Nemours Children’s Health for testing of small molecule inhibitors
- Coordinated collaboration with lead investigators of the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Consortium to contribute to Preclinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (PPK/PD) studies
- Explore innovative ways to continue to advance and progress the testing of novel therapies in clinical trials
- Developed a dosing schedule for Palbociclib in combination with chemotherapy for testing in osteosarcoma
- Collaborated closely with industrial partner to develop assays to evaluate RNAi therapy and supported those groups as they implemented the assays
- Support the Children’s Oncology Group clinical trials by developing assays for the immunological analysis of plasma samples in pediatric cancer patients
- Identified a key microRNA, miR-34a, as a small, non-coding RNA that regulates osteosarcoma tumor growth and proliferation
- Laboratory research ethics manager and ethics liaison with the Institutional Biosafety Committee for research compliance
- Co-advisor for two graduate students (Master’s program) and honors students mentor
- Co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals and one chapter in Current Advances in Osteosarcoma
- D'Cruz RJ, Currier AW, Sampson VB
- Laboratory Testing Methods for Novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)
- Front Cell Dev Biol
- 2020
Research Associate
Nemours Children’s Health
02.2008 - 12.2011
- Conceived, prototyped, and co-author of the study of the Wilms’ tumor protein in metastatic progression of clear cell renal cell cancer
- Participated in the study showing Na,K-ATPase is a target of cigarette smoke and reduced expression predicts poor patient outcome of smokers with lung cancer supplying an early detection method to show free radical damage in tissues
- Useful in detecting early damage from cigarette smoke
- Key contributor of scientific and regulatory documents of preclinical studies
- Collaborated with 4 lead investigators to submit an institutional grant application and contributed a pilot study to identify miRNA biomarkers for Wilms’ tumor
- Coached and mentored Scientists, created a team environment and bridged the gaps between other departments
- Mentored three undergraduate students and one high school student in research projects
Research Associate
Nemours Children’s Health
08.2005 - 01.2008
- Designed and published the study showing the MYC oncogene as a target of the let-7a tumor suppressor microRNA in Burkitt’s lymphoma
- Sampson VB, Dunn SP, Rymeski B, et al
- Failure of immunosuppressive drug levels to predict T-cell reactivity in pediatric transplant patients
- J Ped Surg
- 2009
- Served as project expert during inspections
Research Technician
Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex
08.1995 - 09.2000
- Conducted research on the simulation of the internal electron transfer for cytochrome c oxidase
- Acquired computational data of subunits involved in the intramolecular electron transfer for cytochrome c oxidase; analyzed the enzyme kinetics and substrate binding sites on the enzyme
- Proposed modeling methods to incorporate reduction of enzyme and forecast intramolecular electron transfer
- Published cytochrome c: cytochrome oxidase interactions in European Journal of Biochemistry
- Impacted the medical testing field and early detection of tissue damage by successfully developing a robust, non-invasive, chemiluminescence method to detect cytochrome c in plasma
- Useful in detecting early damage from myocardial infarction
- Mentored students and trained lab staff and developed protocols for analysis of novel targets in blood
- Proposed modeling methods to incorporate the binding domain of cytochrome c oxidase that simulates the electron transfer from cytochrome c (Ph.D
- Thesis)
Education
Project Management Program Training -
Project Management Institute
01.2023
Postdoctoral Fellow -
New York Medical College
Valhalla, NY01.2005
Ph.D. - Biochemistry
University of The West Indies
01.2000
B.Sc. - Chemistry, Biochemistry
University of the West Indies
01.1990
Skills
- Laboratory techniques
- Research and experiments
- Safety processes and procedures
- Assay development
- Data Analytics
- Research methods
- Results Analysis
- Chemical Analysis
- Protein Purification
- Experimental design
Affiliations
- Affiliated Scientist, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, 01/01/16, 01/01/22
- Research Scientist, Nemours Biomedical Research/ Nemours Children’s Health, 01/01/13, 01/01/22
- Research Assistant Professor, Thomas Jefferson University, PA, 01/01/09, 01/01/22
- Affiliate Faculty, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, DE, 01/01/07, 01/01/22
Languages
Spanish
Elementary
Timeline
Scientist II
WuXi AppTec, Advanced Therapy Unit
07.2022 - 10.2023
Research Scientist
Nemours Children’s Health
01.2021 - 01.2022
Assistant Research Scientist II
Nemours Children’s Health
01.2012 - 12.2019
Research Associate
Nemours Children’s Health
02.2008 - 12.2011
Research Associate
Nemours Children’s Health
08.2005 - 01.2008
Research Technician
Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex
08.1995 - 09.2000
Postdoctoral Fellow -
New York Medical College
B.Sc. - Chemistry, Biochemistry
University of the West Indies
Project Management Program Training -
Project Management Institute
Ph.D. - Biochemistry
University of The West Indies
Professionalservice
- Member, Hazardous and Decontamination Team, 01/01/20, 01/01/22
- Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), 01/01/16, 01/01/22
References
Available upon request.
Professionalservice
- Member, Hazardous and Decontamination Team, 01/01/20, 01/01/22
- Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), 01/01/16, 01/01/22
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