Professional Summary
Translational Scientist and PhD cancer biologist who turns early-stage discovery into reproducible, development-ready science. Fifteen-plus years spanning target and biomarker discovery, preclinical oncology modeling, and bioanalytical assay development across pancreatic, lung, and thyroid cancers. ASQ-Certified Six Sigma Black Belt who embeds Quality-by-Design and statistical process control directly into R&D, so data generated in discovery can ultimately support regulatory and clinical decisions. Author of 20+ peer-reviewed papers and conference abstracts; experienced leading cross-functional teams across wet lab, bioinformatics, clinical partners, and CROs.
Experience
2026 - Present
Principal Scientist
Tessering Biosciences Inc.
Valhalla, NY
As Principal Scientist at Tessering Biosciences, I design and coordinate early-stage small-molecule oncology R&D programs, defining the translational assay strategies and preclinical study plans that move candidates through lead optimization and selection across several active programs. I lead IND-enabling planning — study design, budgeting, CRO selection, and regulatory readiness — to establish the preclinical roadmap toward filing, and I am building the core R&D infrastructure (lab operations, vendor management, documentation, and experimental workflows) on Quality-by-Design and Six Sigma principles to maximize reproducibility and data integrity from day one.
2024 - Present
Scientific Advisor
Formerly Principal Scientist
Episteme Prognostics Inc.
Brooklyn, NY
I currently advise Episteme Prognostics as Scientific Advisor, having led its pancreatic cancer biomarker program as Principal Scientist and, earlier, as Senior Scientist. I built and led a cross-functional team that advanced two laboratory-developed tests — an IHC assay and a chromatin-accessibility (ATAC) assay — from discovery through analytical validation and New York State CLEP submission. I authored the SOPs, validation plans, and CLIA/CLEP-aligned QC frameworks that improved assay pass rate from 70% to 90%, and I designed in vitro and in vivo studies characterizing the mechanism, efficacy, and potency of small molecules and biologics in PDAC. As Scientific Advisor, I now provide ongoing scientific and translational guidance as the platform advances toward the clinic.
2021 - 2024
Senior Research Scientist
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
New York, NY
Led preclinical drug-discovery efforts in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to improve the efficacy of epigenetic therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Built multi-cell co-culture systems modeling the PDAC tumor–immune microenvironment and characterized treatment-induced immune shifts by high-parameter flow cytometry. Designed and executed orthotopic and subcutaneous in vivo studies (including survival surgeries), evaluating response by cytokine profiling, survival analysis, and immune phenotyping, and integrated RNA-seq to map resistance mechanisms. Showed that low-dose dual epigenetic therapy combined with anti-PD1 reverses an HMA-induced suppressive myeloid phenotype and prolongs survival in an orthotopic PDAC model.
2017 - 2021
Postdoctoral Researcher
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
Led preclinical studies identifying molecular targets to improve chemotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Uncovered a previously unrecognized role for the CTLH E3 ubiquitin ligase complex — specifically the RANBP9/RANBP10 "rheostat" — in tumor progression and therapy resistance. Designed and generated multiple GEMMs (tissue-specific conditional knockouts, CRISPR knock-ins) and established 20+ stable isogenic cell lines that powered mechanistic studies and high-throughput screening across collaborative programs. Findings established RANBP9/RANBP10 as candidate therapeutic targets and linked RANBP9 levels to platinum-drug sensitivity and a PARP-inhibitor "BRCAness-like" vulnerability.
2013 - 2017
Research Fellow
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, NY
Identified AGC-family kinases — notably SGK1 — as essential, AKT-independent drivers of PI3K-driven thyroid cancer survival, redefining how PI3K-mutant tumors should be targeted. Established and optimized primary thyrocyte cultures, generated 20+ engineered cell lines, and supported 100+ in vivo and in vitro experiments, including industry collaborations to screen and validate small-molecule kinase inhibitors.
Professional skillset
Preclinical Oncology Models (PDX, GEMMs, Humanized)
Biomarker Discovery & Validation
CRISPR, Lentiviral Transduction,
Cell Line Engineering
Flow Cytometry & Immune Profiling
Assay Development (CLIA-aligned, Diagnostic R&D)
Epigenomics (ATAC-seq, DNA Methylation)
Trial Readiness & Assay Integration
cfDNA extraction, library preparation
Handling and processing of clinical samples
Certifications
ASQ CSSBB
Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
Education
2009 - 2012
Ph.D. in Life Science
University of Sannio, Benevento
Italy
2007 - 2009
Master's degree in Genetic Technologies
University of Sannio, Benevento
Italy