Jian Tang

Highly motivated, versatile Ph.D. scientist, with an extensive scientific background and industry experience in immuno-oncology, oncology, molecular biology, assay development and protein sciences. Effective, independent researcher and enthusiastic team contributor. Excellent communication, writing and supervisory skills. 

Marengo (former Elstar) therapeutics, Cambridge, MA           

Senior scientist, Immuno-oncology                                                                      Mar 2022 to present            

Scientist II, Immuno-oncology                                                                               Sep 2019 to Feb 2022

Scientist I, Immuno-oncology                                                                                Aug 2017-Sep 2019

• Pre-clinical studies on T cell bispecific Ab dual agonist (aTCRvβxIL-2):

--- Planned & executed experiments, presented data in project team meetings 

--- Expanded T cells using bispecific Abs and detected expanded T cells using FACS

--- Measured TRBV selectivity using nanostring technologies   

--- Worked on T cell activation assay and T cell proliferation assay 

--- Cell binding studies 

--- Worked on Ab internalization, target receptor density measurement

--- Did pstat5 signaling assay in PBMCs (T, NK, Treg)

--- Did signaling assays (pSLP76, pERK and pstat5) 

--- Measured cytokines in the supernatant of PBMCs using 10-plex cytokine kit from MSD

--- Worked on ex vivo PD study (immune profiling of tumor, spleen and blood)

--- Prepared drug candidate data for filing IND

--- Prepared drug candidate data report for Ipsen

--- Worked on T cell engager molecules (signaling, cytotoxicity assays)

• Pre-clinical studies on NK cell engager bispecific Abs: 

--- led the early discovery effort and managed a scientist on NK cytotoxicity assay and ex vivo PD study for 6 months

--- Planned & executed experiments, presented data in project team meetings to CSO, head of research and other people 

--- Selected lead molecules of NK cell engager Abs by performing cell binding, NK cytotoxicity assay (NK cell line, primary NK/PBMCs)

--- Characterized lead molecules via NK cell activation and proliferation assay 

--- Worked on model build and PD studies using NOG-IL15 mice injected with expanded NK cells, target cells and bispecific Abs

• Pre-clinical studies on a myeloid cell targeting bispecific antibody program (UniTI-101):

--- Selected lead molecules using monocyte migration and proliferation assay

--- Worked on PD studies: immune profiling of tumors and spleen from mice to study the MOA of the antibodies

• Other participating projects: 

--- Screened anti PDL1 antibodies using PD1 PDL1 bioassay 

--- Screened TGFβtrap molecules using TGFβ reporter assay

MERRIMACK PHARMACEUTICALS, Cambridge, MA                                                                 Jan 2009-April 2017

Scientist, Cancer cell biology 

• Discovery Effort on Istiratumab (MM141 Program)

     --- Selected lead molecule of MM141 (a bispecific Ab targeting IGF-IR and ErbB3) using several rounds of antibody screening assays, such as high throughput signaling, receptor binding by Octet (ForteBio), cell binding,  receptor down-regulation and 3D spheroid assays.

     --- Studied mechanisms of action of MM141 by assessing its effects on receptor and downstream signaling pathways 

     --- Elucidated signaling networks related to IGF-IR and Insulin R (IR) and thus generated data to support MM141 model generation and combination therapy predictions

     --- Quantified signaling protein levels in xenograft tumor tissues, by using western blot and Luminex 

     --- Generated stable cancer cell lines: knock down IGF-IR, ErbB3, IR and over-express IR   

     --- 3D spheroid assay showing the combination effect of MM141 and chemotherapeutic drug

     --- RNA profiling on MM141 treated cell line samples

• Early Discovery Effort on an Immunotherapy target (TNFR2)

     --- Led lead molecule screening effort, generated surrogate molecules and human therapeutics:

          binding affinity using Octet, cell binding, ligand competition assay (ELISA), 

          epitope binning, binding on mouse/human chimeric receptors, poly-specificity assay.   

     --- Helped screening of lead antibody molecules in mouse syngeneic tumor models

• Contributed to MM151 Program (mixture of 3 anti EGFR Abs)

     --- Engineered colon cancer cell lines to express EGFR mutant and then do cell viability assay to show the superiority of MM151 over other EGFR inhibitors

• Protein Engineering Group

--- Knocked out glutamine synthetase in CHOM cell line using Crisper/cas9 technology to generate CHO stable cell line for producing antibodies. Confirmed the genetic changes and protein level knockout using PCR and western blot. 

--- Purified antibodies and did binding, epitope binning, Fc gamma receptor binding studies using Octet system, Cell line development to express therapeutic antibodies. 

• Supervisory experience:  two co-op students 

PHYLONIX PHARMACEUTICALS, Cambridge, MA                                              May2007-December2008

Scientist, Biology

• Studied the relationship between oxidative stress and drug-induced toxicity in zebrafish   
• Developed several zebrafish disease models for testing small molecule drugs. Disease models included abnormal eye angiogenesis, wound healing and muscular dystrophy.
• Grant writing experience:   NIH SBIR phase I (one was funded) and phase II grant 
• Supervisory experience (direct report):   one RA

BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, Boston, MA  

2001 –2007 

Postdoctoral fellow, Cancer metabolism and vascular biology

PI:  Prof. Vikas Sukhatme (Victor J Aresty Prof. of Medicine, Chief academic officer of BIDMC); 

• Characterized the function of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA, an enzyme important for glycolysis and metabolism) in cancer cells, developed assays to measure LDHA activity, determined the role of LDHA in cancer cells by performing in vitro assays and in vivo xenograft tumor models using an LDHA shRNA knockdown tumor cell line. 
• Demonstrated the pro-angiogenic effects of calponin2 and endothelial specific heat shock protein HSPA12B in endothelial cells (HUVECs). The HSPA12B paper has been cited by many publications. 
• Supervisory experience: co-supervised one RA with another colleague

Albert Einstein college of medicine, Bronx, NY                                                                                               1998 –2001

Postdoctoral fellow, glycobiology

PI:  Prof. Pamela Stanley (Horace W. Goldsmith professor, associate director for laboratory research of the Albert Einstein Cancer Center)

• Identified the suppressors of a(1.3) Fucosylation by expression cloning in gain-of-function CHO mutant
• Determined the function of GlcNAc-TIII (a glycosylation enzyme) by chemically-induced liver cancer model in  GlcNAc-TIII- knockout mice 
• Carried out the molecular analysis of three gain-of-function CHO mutants that add the bisecting GlcNAc to N-glycans

THE INSTITUTE OF MICROBIOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, P.R. CHINA,                             1995 –1998

Ph.D candidate, antibody engineering

PI:   Prof. Po Tien and Prof. Xiyun Yan (Academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

• Screened and expressed single chain antibodies targeted to vasculature-related antigens such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) and Collagenase IV using phage display
• Obtained high level scFv expression in E.coli system and Pichia Pastoris yeast expression system
• Constructed antibody mutant library using error-prone PCR from which a mutant with higher affinity was screened out 
• Supervisory experience:  two undergraduate students