Background:

Our focus was on a chemical company with $2 billion market capitalization.  One division of the company was focused on biopolymers.

Problem:

The client was at a crossroads in terms of whether to invest in additional manufacturing capacity for its excipient or keep manufacturing capacity as is. To aid in the decision making process the client wanted a 5 year forecast for its excipient which is used in solid dosage forms.

Project Framework:

I divided the project into 2 parts to examine the branded pharmaceutical market and the generic market.  The client’s customers who manufactured branded products accounted for ~50% of excipient sales. I developed forecasts for those customers products which contained the excipient of interest.  Purchased IMS data regarding branded tablet sales (volumes and $) and used this and additional information to build a forecast for the customers in the branded pharmaceutical market.  Used a top line approach to forecast sales of generic solid dosage forms and developed a forecast using IMS information regarding generic tablet sales (volumes and $) as well as primary research regarding the generic market.

Outcome:

Presentation detailing the dynamics of branded and generic solid dosage forms over the next 5 years as well as a forecasting tool which allowed the client to understand its key customers/and their needs in the upcoming years.

Background:

Mechanical forces play an important in regulating cellular pathways and maintaining proper cell function. An important cellular process that has been intensely studied is that of cell migration. It is widely believed that mechanical forces play an important role in directing and mediating cell migration yet exactly how is still a point of heated debate.

Problem:

Our task was to develop a means by which we could visualize the mechanical forces exerted by cells during migration. Further, we wanted to translate those observations into force magnitudes and distributions both temporally and spatially.

Project Framework:

We drew upon basic biology, microscopy, material science, mathematics and modeling techniques to develop a specialized substrate system that would allow us to directly capture the mechanical forces exerted by cells as they migrated over the surface of the substrate.

Outcome:

The resulting system was used to observe the mechanical forces during migration of a variety of cells and develop cellular migration force maps of the changing mechanical force magnitude and distribution over time.

Further, the system was used to delve into specific aspects of cellular migration from directionality during migration to better understanding the structure/function relationships of the subcellular mechanisms meditating the production of force during migration.

Background:

Patients that undergo cardiac bypass surgery sometimes are unable to restore proper blood pressure following this invasive procedure.  In specific situations where a patient’s condition (i.e. age, weight, other medical condition) does not allow for the application of pharmacological agents to elevate blood pressure alternative methods are sought by which to directly raise blood pressure.

Problem:

In situations where patients having undergone cardiac bypass surgery are experience difficulty returning blood pressure to its appropriate levels and pharmacological agents cannot be used to stimulate elevation of blood pressure and alternative method is needed to help patients regain proper blood pressure.

Project Framework:

We sought to better understand the relationship between cardiovascular smooth muscle regulation of vascular tone maintenance and specific regulators of contractility.  Using a mammalian model system we investigated the role of a specific regulator of cardiovascular smooth muscle contractility.

Drawing upon the regulatory action of a protein of interest, having a molecular memory function in nervous tissue, we sought to investigate the potential that this molecular memory function played a role in the regulation of cardiovascular smooth muscle by this protein.

Outcome:

Our results revealed the potentially novel action of this protein of interest in cardiovascular smooth muscle regulation of contractility and long-term tone maintenance.

These observations open the doorway for further investigations where the molecular memory function of this protein of interest could potentially be used in a therapeutic setting, such as following cardiac bypass surgery.

Background:

Government and foundation extramural funding for academic biomedical research is dwindling, limiting the research efforts at many academic institutions, including Harvard Medical School (HMS).

Problem:

Develop a user-friendly marketing tool that showcases the commercial potential of research projects in HMS laboratories to the life science commercial sector, to promote collaborative interactions that might lead to corporate sponsorship of the research

Project Framework:

Develop a new website that the life science community can utilize to quickly identify laboratories and/or research projects of interest, and hopefully catalyze new collaborations and funding opportunities for HMS investigators.

Outcome:

Planned, implemented, and directed the development of the HMS Office of Technology Development satellite website, the Collaborative Research Opportunity Finder (CROP Finder: http://otd.harvard.edu/crop/ ). The CROP Finder provides a panoramic view of HMS research activities, highlighting commercial and collaborative opportunities without any restrictions imposed by silos or departmental boundaries. The CROP Finder is an indispensable tool for marketing HMS life science technologies to the life science industry and revealing clusters of related research activities

Designed experiments to describe and elucidate transmembrane and cellular signaling molecules.

Background:

Transmembrane and cellular signaling molecules are vital for the initiation and maintenance of proper cell function.  The interaction of neurotransmitters with the cell surface and cytoplasmic proteins manifests numerous responses within the cell.  While a fair amount is known about how these proteins function, our understanding is unfortunately far from complete not only for healthy cells, but particularly for cells afflicted with disease.

Problem:

It was our task to determine what transmembrane and cellular proteins were involved and how their activities and movements were modulated when stimulated by neurotransmitters.  In addition we wanted to determine how these proteins fit into particular signaling cascades in both normal and dysfunctional cells.

Project Framework:

Basic and molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology and modeling techniques were employed to determine which proteins and how their properties mediated the cellular responses observed upon neurotransmitter stimulation.

Outcome:

• The results revealed the specific transmembrane and cellular proteins responsible for the neurotransmitter elicited responses.
• The degree of signaling protein modulation such as phosphorylation, translocation and auxiliary binding proteins was elucidated.
• The time courses of the signaling events as well as specific signaling cascades were revealed.