Anton Neschadim, Hon.B.Sc., M.Sc.
1121 Bay Street, Suite 1906, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3L9, Phone: (416) 897-2789
Lab: 67 College Street, 4th Floor, Room 4-421, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 2M1, Lab Phone: (416) 340-4800 ext.2179/8429
E-mail: anton.neschadim@utoronto.ca
Personal Objectives
Continuous and rapid personal and educational development, specifically, building off my existing skill set to further improve my organizational, managerial and entrepreneurial skills, emotional intelligence, critical and analytical thinking, and multitasking. Particularly interested in science policy, communicating research to the general public, and funding and commercialization of research. Strive to apply a multidisciplinary approach to analyzing and solving all problems.
Research Objectives
Contributing to the development of novel and improved Cell Fate Control Gene Therapy strategies for the management of Graft versus Host Disease associated with Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation (AlloBMT) and Donor Lymphocyte Infusion (DLI) treatments. Through over seven years of research experience I have learned to implement a multidisciplinary strategy in my approach to biomedical research. I am currently a 4th year PhD candidate at the Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, and a trainee in the CIHR STIHR Training Program in Regenerative Medicine at the Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network.
Academic Preparation
Ph.D. in Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 2005-Ongoing
Area of Research: Gene Therapy, Immunology, Transplantation
M.Sc. in Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 2002-2005
Area of Research: Immunology, B Lymphocyte Development
Hon. B.Sc. in Life Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto, 1999-2002
Programs: Immunology Specialist & Biological Chemistry Specialist
Rogozin High School Matriculation Diploma, Tel-Aviv, Israel, 1995-1998
Current Initiatives
§ Canadian Science Policy Conference 2009, Organizing Committee
§ Immunobiochem Corporation, Director / Consultant
§ Graduate Students’ Union, UofT, Executive, University Affairs Committee
§ Vivid Flare, Director of Business Development
Research Skills
§ Immunology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry:
¨ Selected Techniques: Cell Culture, Transfection, Virus Production, SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, Immunoprecipitation, PCR, RT-PCR, Q-PCR, Vector Design and Cloning, Molecular Genetics, ELISA, Flow Cytometry, Immunohistochemistry, Basic Animal Surgery
§ Chemistry:
¨ Practical knowledge of current analytical and synthetic techniques: NMR (Proton, Carbon, Boron, Fluorine, 2D COSY), IR, Vis/UV and Fluorescence spectroscopies, HPLC, TLC, GC, Column Chromatography, extraction, distillation, purification, others.
¨ Synthetic organic chemistry background: familiar with numerous procedures, experimental set-ups, handling and using chemicals and many standard reactions. Also familiar with many inorganic and physical chemistry experimental techniques.
¨ Four months hands-on experience in a synthetic organic chemistry laboratory.
§ Computing / IT:
¨ Molecular modeling, data analysis, statistics, bio-statistics, extensive mathematical background.
¨ Programming: C, Java, Delphi, Pascal, PHP and others.
¨ Applications: Adobe CS Applications, VectorNTI, DNAsis, Gene Runner, DNAStrider, Flow Cytometry Software, SPSS, Excel, Word, Access, MatLab, HyperChem, ChemOffice and others.
Professional Experience
Prof. J.A. Medin, Dept. of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, UofT, Ontario, CA
Doctoral Candidate, Trainee in the CIHR Training Program in Regenerative Medicine
2005 - Current
§ Development of improved suicide gene therapy (or cell fate control gene therapy) for management of GvHD for bone marrow transplantation treatments and other applications
§ Design of novel suicide gene - prodrug combinations for lentivirus-based delivery
§ Comprehensive pre-clinical investigation of suicide gene therapy efficacy and safety
§ Involved in other mainstream projects in the laboratory, and international collaborations with countries such as USA, Japan, Italy, France and Australia
YM Biosciences Inc. – University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, CA
Consultant
2009 - Current
§ Established a successful industry-academia relationship between YMB Inc. and the laboratory of Dr. J.A. Medin at the Ontario Cancer Institute for the performance of contractual/collaborative services
§ Industry project consisting of cell culture investigations with a monoclonal therapeutic antibody
§ Devising and guiding experimental design, and directing experiment implementation by a part-time technician in the lab (Under supervision of Dr. J.A. Medin in his laboratory)
Graduate Students’ Union, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CA
GSU Executive, University Affairs Commissioner
2009 - Current
§ Representing the Union in regards to student rights matters within the University
§ Ensuring representation of graduate student interests and concerns with academic and administrative decision-making bodies of the University
§ Coordinating appointment of GSU representatives to University Committees
§ Ensuring communication between the Union and graduate student representatives on committees of the University, including organizing the GC student caucus
§ Monitoring University committees for issues of relevance to graduate students
§ Chairing the committee dealing with University Affairs
§ Performing such other functions as the Executive or Council may require
Canadian Science Policy Conference 2009, Canadian Science Policy Centre, Toronto, Ontario, CA
Organizing Committee, Advertising&Communications Sub-Committee, Web&IT Sub-Committee
2009 - Current
§ Contributing to the work of the main organizing committee and reporting on the chaired sub-committees
§ Co-chairing weekly meetings of two-sub-committees, recruiting and coordinating the work of members, and coordinating with other sub-committees
§ Establishing advertising and media outreach strategies for the promotion of the conference and recruitment of attendees and speakers
§ Composing and generating advertising materials and media press releases for the promotion of the event
§ Establishing a promotion strategy for the conference website
§ Contacting stakeholders and other interested parties as required, and communicating the importance of the event for Canada
§ Coordinating advertising with media sponsors of the conference
Vivid Flare, Toronto, Ontario, CA
Director of Business Development / Partner
2009 - Current
§ Development of complete e-commerce solutions for small local businesses to help them expand their operations to the web, increase online visibility and increase market share
§ Engineering of innovative and affordable e-commerce platforms, search engine optimization, marketing and advertising, brand promotion, technical services and customer services outsourcing to other countries
Immunobiochem Corporation, Toronto, Ontario, CA
Director / Consultant
2007 - Current
§ Development of a consulting services provider through engagement of young experienced professionals with broad interests in assay development for the biotechnology sector and rendering of other services
§ Providing biotechnology consulting services with focus on assay development in immunology, biochemistry and molecular biology
§ Start up part-time consulting practice, partner operated
Prof. M.J.H. Ratcliffe, Dept. of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, UofT, Ontario, CA
Graduate Student
2002 - 2004
§ Study of B lymphocyte development in the bursa of Fabricius
§ Developmental biology research through application of a wide variety of molecular biology, microbiology and immunology protocols under supervision of a faculty member
§ Construct design, cloning, functional assays
Immunology for 2nd Year Medical Students ("Pathobiology of Disease")
Dept. of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, UofT, Ontario, CA
Seminar Leader / Teaching Assistant
2002
§ Leading seminars/tutorials for a group of approximately 20 students
§ Overview of immunological concepts within the framework of taught course material
§ Solving assigned problems with student participation, and addressing students’ questions
Prof. C. Guidos, Dept. of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, UofT, Ontario, CA
Graduate Student
2002
§ Site directed mutagenesis of cytoplasmic tail residues in preTalpha and implications for its meristylation and surface anchoring
Prof. R.A. Batey, Dept. of Chemistry, UofT, Ontario, CA
Undergraduate Researcher, OSOTF Funded
2001
§ Synthesis of diaryl ethers by copper acetate catalyzed couplings of aryl alcohols with potassium aryltrifluoroborates
§ Free radical reactions of aryl and alkenyl boronic acids
§ Design, elucidation and optimization of reaction conditions
Techno-Scientific Inc., Woodbridge, Ontario, CA
Computer Programmer
1999
§ Modifying and developing operating software for ultra-sonic scanners
§ Maintaining computers, software and local network
Pljusha Construction, Toronto, Ontario, CA
Administrative Manager
1998
§ Administrating employees: hiring and scheduling of working hours
§ Researching new product and process information
§ Invoice processing, basic accounting, composing contracts and agreements, computerized data management
D.Z. Systems Ltd., Holon, Israel
Computer Technician and Sales Representative
1996 - 1998
§ Software installation and configuration, designing and programming software for inexperienced users
§ Providing customer service: trouble-shooting, repair and consulting
§ Soldering and assembly of several of company’s products
Publications and Presentations
§ Neschadim, A., How to Enunciate the Importance of Research Funding to the General Populace and the Government. Geneva Park Retreat, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 2009.
§ Likar, Y., Zurita, J., Shenker, L., Cai, S., Neschadim, A., Medin, J.A., Hricak, H., Ponomarev, V. A new pyrimidine-specific human reporter gene – mutated deoxycytidine kinase suitable for PET imaging in patients treated with acycloguanosine-based cytotoxic drugs. Submitted to Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 2009.
§ Sato, T., Neschadim, A., Sukegawa, J., Yanagisawa, T., Medin, J.A. Bystander Killing Highlights the Utility of the TmpkF105Y/AZT System for Suicide Gene Therapy of Cancer. In preparation. 2009.
§ Likar, Y., Zurita, J., Dobrenkov, K., Shenker, L., Neschadim, A., Medin, J.A., Cai, S., Hricak, H., Ponomarev, V. A new pyrimidine-specific human-derived reporter gene for PET imagin in humans: truncated mutant deoxycytidine kinase. Abstract submitted to World Molecular Imaging Congress 2009.
§ Walia, J.S., Neschadim, A., Fan, X., Lopez, O., Madden, M., Cheung, F, Jaffray, D., Levade, T., Brady, R.O., McCart, A.J., Medin, J.A. Expression of Acid Ceramidase at Supranormal Levels in Non-Human Primates After Autologous Transplantation of Lentivirus-Transduced Hematopoietic Cells. In preparation for PNAS. 2009.
§ Scaife, M.D., Neschadim, A., Fowler, D.H., Medin, J.A. Novel application of lentiviral vectors towards treatment of graft-versus-host disease. Expert Opinion in Biological Therapy. 2009. 9(6):749-61. Review.
§ Medin, J.A., Walia, J.S., Neschadim, A., Fan, X., Madden, M., Cheung, F., Jaffray, D., Levade, T., Brady, R.O., McCart, A.J. Outcomes of testing Lentivector-mediated Gene Therapy for Farber Disease in Non-Human Primates. Abstract in Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. 2008.
§ Neschadim, A., Lavie, A., Sato, T., Fowler, D.H., Medin, J.A. Novel Lentiviral Cell Fate Control Gene Therapy Based on Engineered Variants of the Human Deoxycytidine Kinase. American Society of Gene Therapy 11th Annual Meeting 2008.
§ Devine, S.P., Neschadim, A., Fowler, D.H., Lavie, A., Medin, J.A. Towards a Master Cell Fate Control Lentiviral Vector for Cell and Gene Therapy. American Society of Gene Therapy 11th Annual Meeting 2008.
§ Walia, J.S., Neschadim, A., Ramsubir, S., Yoshimitsu, M., Head, R., Rasaiah, V.I., Donahue, R.E., Cheung, F., Jaffray, D., McCart J.A., Medin, J.A. Acid Ceramidase Expression at Supranormal Levels in Non-Human Primates Following Autologous Transplantation of Lentivirus-Transduced Hematopoietic Cells. American Society of Gene Therapy 11th Annual Meeting 2008.
§ Sato, T., Neschadim, A., Sukegawa, J., Yanagisawa, T., Medin, J.A. Bystander Killing Highlights the Utility of the tmpkF105Y/AZT System for Suicide Gene Therapy of Cancer. American Society of Gene Therapy 11th Annual Meeting 2008.
§ Neschadim, A., McCart, J.A., Keating, A., Medin, J.A. A Roadmap to Safe, Efficient, and Stable Lentivirus-Mediated Gene Therapy with Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. Biology of Bone and Marrow Transplantation. 2007. 13(12):1407-16. Review.
§ Silvertown, J.D., Neschadim, A., Liu, H.N., Shannon, P., Walia, J.S., Kao, J.C.H., Robertson, J., Summerlee, A.J.S., and J.A. Medin. Relaxin-3 and receptors in the human and rhesus brain and reproductive tissues. Regulatory Peptides. 2009. In press.
§ Sato, T., Neschadim, A., Konrad, M., Lavie, A., and J.A. Medin. Engineered Human tmpk/AZT As a Novel Enzyme/Prodrug Axis for Suicide Gene Therapy. Mol. Ther. 2007. 15(5): 962-70. E-publication Mar 20, 2007.
§ Neschadim, A., Sato, T., Fowler, D.H., Lavie, A., and J.A. Medin. Development of improved lentiviral suicide gene therapy for the management of GvHD in allogeneic BMT. American Society of Hematology 48th Annual Meeting, Florida. 2006. Blood 2006. 108: 3256.
§ Sato, T., Neschadim, A., Rasaiah, V., Konrad, M., Lavie, A., Medin, J.A. Development of a novel lentivirus-based suicide gene therapy approach using modified human thymidylate monophosphate kinase. Journal of Gene Medicine. 2006. 8(3): 399.
§ Silvertown, J.D., Symes J.C., Neschadim, A., Nonaka, T., Kao, J., Summerlee, A.J.S., and J.A. Medin. Analog of H2 relaxin exhibits antagonistic properties and impairs prostate tumor growth. FASEB J. 2007. 21(3): 754-65. E-publication Dec 28, 2006.
§ Neschadim, A., Konrad, M., Lavie, A., and J.A. Medin. Novel ‘Suicide’ Gene Therapy Approaches for the Prevention of GvHD. Presented at the 2006 Langdon Hall Gene Therapy Meeting, Cambridge, Ontario, CA, 2006 – Awarded Best Poster
§ Neschadim, A., Improved Lentiviral 'Suicide' Gene Therapy for the Management Of GvHD in Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation. Student Seminars, Dept. of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Ontario, CA, 2006.
§ Sato, T., Neschadim, A., Rasaiah, V., Konrad, M., Fowler, D.H., Lavie, A., and J. A. Medin. A novel suicide gene therapy approach for reduction of GvHD using lentiviral delivery of a modified human thymidylate monophosphate kinase. Blood. 2005 106(11): 397B.
§ Sato, T., Neschadim, A., Rasaiah, V., Konrad, M., Fowler, D.H., Lavie, A., and J. A. Medin. Improved suicide gene therapy: Lentiviral gene transfer of equine herpes virus type 4 thymidine kinase into target cells. Blood. 2005. 106(11): 396B-397B.
§ Neschadim, A., and M.J.H. Ratcliffe. Failure of Immunoglobulin Heavy and Light Chain Association and Consequences to Apoptosis in the Bursa of Fabricius. Manuscript in preparation, Dept. of Immunology, University of Toronto, Ontario, CA, 2005.
§ Neschadim, A. Failure of Immunoglobulin Heavy and Light Chain Pairing May Underlie Bursal B Cell Death. Student Seminars, Dept. of Immunology, University of Toronto, Ontario, CA, 2004.
§ Neschadim, A. B Lymphocyte Selection During Development. Presented at Immunology Graduate Poster Session, Dept. of Immunology, University of Toronto, Ontario, CA, 2003.
§ Neschadim, A. Synthesis of Diaryl Ethers by Copper Catalyzed Coupling of Aryl Alcohols with Potassium Phenyltrifluoroborate Salts. Presented at AstraZeneca Undergraduate Poster Session, University of Toronto, Ontario, CA, 2001.
Current Research Interests
Seeking to apply my interdisciplinary education and the experience obtained during my graduate training towards research in the area of experimental therapeutics, in particular, gene therapy. I am interested in the investigation of mechanisms of immune regulation with focus on autoimmunity and transplantation. I am developing improved and novel suicide (or cell fate control) gene therapy vectors for the management and prevention of GvHD associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and donor lymphocyte infusion treatments. The purpose of this research is to alleviate the high morbidity associated with this condition and enhance the beneficial GvL/GvT effects mediated by transplanted allogeneic T lymphocytes.
I am further interested in developing novel suicide gene therapy-based safety standards for future generations of integrating viral vectors for clinical therapy. Such strategies are aimed at resolving concerns associated with cell-transforming potential of lentiviral gene delivery vehicles and cancer induction through insertional mutagenesis following retroviral gene therapy. Development of reliable suicide gene therapy is an essential ingredient to the global solution of safety concerns in the application of integrating viral vector for gene therapy in the clinic.
Awards, Honors, Grants and Scholarships
§ Dr. James A. & Connie P. Dickson Scholarship in the Sciences & Mathematics, UofT, 2000
§ University of Toronto Dean's List, 2000
§ William Robert Luscombe Bursary, UofT, 2001
§ OSOTF (Richard Ivey Foundation) Summer Research Award, UofT, 2001
§ University of Toronto Dean's List Certificate, 2001
§ Robert and Jean Hadgraft Scholarship in Chemistry, UofT, 2002
§ Reuben Wells Leonard Scholarship in Physics, UofT, 2002
§ Travel Award, 1st Student Conference on Biomedical Computing, 2006
§ Travel Award, XVI International AIDS Conference, 2006
§ Poster Award, Langdon Hall Gene Therapy Meeting, 2006
§ University of Toronto Open Fellowships, UofT, 2002 - 2008
§ Presentation Award, Day in Transplantation and Immunology, MOT Program, TGH, 2008
§ CIHR Scholarship, Training Program in Regenerative Medicine Award, 2005 - 2008
§ McCuaig-Throop Bursary, School of Graduate Studies, 2009
Memberships and Committees
§ Graduate Student Union (GSU) Executive, University Affairs Commissioner, University Affairs Committee Chair, University of Toronto, 2009 - 2010
§ Canadian Science Policy Conference 2009, Organizing Committee, Advertising&Communications and Website&IT sub-committees co-chair, 2009
§ Canadian Science Policy Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Board of Directors, 2009
§ Medical Biophysics Graduate Student Union Executive, 2007-2009
§ Graduate Student Union (GSU), Council Representative for Medical Biophysics, 2006-2009
§ Canadian Association of Management Consultants (CMC)
§ American Society of Gene Therapy (ASGT), Associate Member
§ Member of the Canadian Society of Biochemistry, Molecular & Cell Biology (CSBMCB)
§ Golden Key Chapter Society, University of Toronto
§ UofT Russian Student Association, RSA, Former Events Director
§ Immunology (Undergraduate) Student Association, University of Toronto
Languages
§ Fluent in English, Russian and Hebrew
§ Studied Italian and Arabic
Extracurricular Interests
§ Sports: volleyball, tennis, golf, skiing
§ Musical: piano, composition, improvisation
References
Letters of Reference are Available upon Request
The following
individuals and many others have previously written letters of recommendation
on my behalf:
Dr. Medin J.A., Professor
Department of Medical Biophysics
University of Toronto, Toronto , ON, CA
(416) 340-4745
Dr. Ratcliffe M.J.H., Professor, Chair
Department of Immunology
University of Toronto, Toronto , ON, CA
(416) 978-6382
Dr. Bristow R.G., Associate Professor
Department of Medical Biophysics
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CA
(416) 946-4501 x4351
Dr. Schimmer A., Assistant Professor
Department of Medical Biophysics
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CA
(416) 946-4501 x2838