Ross Chikarmane

Associate

2022

Covering public and private investments in: - Metabolic (obesity, diabetes, etc.) - Liver disease (NASH, PBC, ALF/ACLF cirrhosis, etc.) - Chronic kidney disease (IgAN, FSGS, Alport, DKD, AKI, dialysis, etc) - Various indication spaces for particular private companies

TechAtlas Intern

2021 - 2022

PhD Candidate, Lab of Vasan Yegnasubramanian/William Nelson

2017 - 2022

> Lead Project #1: Characterized the coordinated activation of the androgen receptor transcriptional program in prostate cancer. > Lead Project #2: Single cell transcriptomic examination of (1) MYC-driven prostate cancer in mice and (2) comparison with patient-derived prostatic adenocarcinomas that overexpress the c-MYC oncogene. > Side Projects: (1) Defined the antineoplastic effects of combining a DCTPP1 inhibitor and a DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor to treat prostate cancer. (2) Investigated a novel therapeutic strategy that combines 'arrested agonists' with radiotherapy to treat prostate cancer. (3) Characterized treatment resistant prostate cancer subtypes.

Biotech Journalist, Biomedical Odyssey

2018 - 2021

Catalogued breakthroughs in the biotech industry and translational research at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Graduate Rotation Student, Lab of Jonathan Powell

2017 - 2017

> Pre-clinical validation of antiproliferative therapy for use in human Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). > Examining the mechanism by which metabolic dysmorphias alter the differentiation capacity of myeloblasts. > Work contributed to drug development efforts currently pursued at Dracen Pharmaceuticals, a JHU-based biotech company, and the development of a related pro-drug, which entered into Phase 1/2a clinical trials for the treatment of patients with advanced solid tumors in 2020 and was given FDA Fast Track designation for treatment of NSCLC

Analyst, Commercialization Academy

2020 - 2021

> Accelerated JHTV's IP portfolio commercialization strategy via systematic review of the life science investment, partnership, acquisition, and IPO landscape. > Diligenced inventions & intellectual property (IP) originating from biomedical research at Johns Hopkins University to (1) identify licensees, (2) survey the competitive landscape, (3) identify major risks (and suggest de-risking strategies), and (4) map out go-to-market strategies. > Covered a wide range of diagnostics (genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, MRI), drug modalities (gene therapy, cell therapy, neuroengineering, drug delivery platforms, AI/ML) & disease areas (immunology, neurology, oncology, virology, rare inherited disorders). > Developed a risk analysis framework that was adopted institution-wide

Founder & Director

2020 - 2021

Mission: Connect the Johns Hopkins student body to the biotech industry by sharing the stories of scientists, executives, consultants, venture capitalists, IP lawyers, nonprofits, and think tanks. > Performance: >23,000 downloads; >5,600 page views; 855 followers; 57 episodes (as of 3/2022) > Awarded multi-year grant from the Johns Hopkins Office of the Provost. > Established distribution channels, marketing strategies, production pipelines, brand identity. > Facilitated successful launch and established product-market fit. > Forged collaborative partnerships with the JHU Professional Development and Career Office (PCDO), Johns Hopkins Tech Ventures (JHTV), FastForwardU (FFU) accelerator, PHUtures Office, Hopkins Biotech Network (HBN), Biobuzz, JHU School of Medicine, and JHU School of Public Health.

Co-Director of Alumni Relations, Hopkins Biotech Network (HBN)

2020 - 2021

Undergraduate Research Assistant, Lab of Clifford Kentros Laboratory

2014 - 2017

>Studied neurological basis of spatial memory and learning. > In vivo examination of how Grid cell activity influences spatially sensitive activity of Hippocampal Place cells using a mouse model. > Problems with these areas arise in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), causing the depression of spatial memory in AD patients. Understanding how these brain regions work and interact will prove useful for the development of therapies for AD. > Sister lab of 2014 Nobel Prize (Medicine) winning Moser Lab at Kavli Institute for Neuroscience in Trondheim, Norway.

Organic Chemistry Teaching Assistant (SUPeR Chem PLA)

2014 - 2017

> Mentored >100 students in Organic Chemistry (CH331, CH332, CH333) and General Chemistry (CH221, CH222, CH223) > Provided lecture reviews, homework assistance, and exam preparation.

Treasurer of Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS)

2015 - 2016

> Managed the exchange of club funds for fundraisers & events. > Co-presented 'Phases of Matter' lecture with a liquid nitrogen ice cream demonstration at the Arts & Technology Academy Middle School. > Organized chemistry demonstrations for the science department at the University of Oregon.

Undergraduate Research Assistant, Lab of Mike Harms

2013 - 2014

> Investigated how sequence diversity determines the evolutionary trajectory that gives rise to functional diversity of proteins > Synthesized and purified S100 protein using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). > Functionally characterized S100 protein subtypes (binding affinity) via Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC).

Dietary/Nutritional Service Staff

2013 - 2013