CHHANDA BISWAS, B.SC. (Honors), M.SC., Ph.D.

316 Parsons Ave, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Office: 215-823-5800, x5011; Email: chhandab@mail.med.upenn.edu
Personal: Cell: 610-804-4688; Email: cbb92b04@westpost.net
QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY
* A highly motivated professional with leadership quality and scientific acumen
in project management from inception through completion.
* A great team player and goal oriented in strategic and timely execution of exc
eptional bottom line results by
leveraging a powerful set of skills- personal knowledge base, novel technologies
, literature search and coordination with colleagues.
* Excellent communication and scientific presentation skills within a larger and
more diverse audience.
* Commendable writing skill- proposals, manuscripts, technical and scientific pr
esentations.
* Track record of scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and patented
invention.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
* Translational research-respiratory, cell Biology, skeletal muscle, signaling &
biomarker development, dendritic cell &
tumor immunotherapy, animal models of diseases and translational aspects of the
drug development.
* Validates disease pathways using cutting edge technologies.
* Recombinant proteins, small peptides and vaccine (protein expression, separati
on & purification, structure-
activity relationship, protein/ligand interaction, enzyme kinetics).
* Provides scientific guidelines and trains researchers.
ANALYTICAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
* Adept in managing multiple priorities in an efficient and organized manner,
* Competency in mathematics and complex data analysis algorithms,
* Detailed documentation for accuracy, reproducibility and quality control,
* Trouble shoots and provides review-based exceptional solution and further acti
on plan.
PATENT
Patent No. US 7,589,174B2, Date of patent: Sep, 15, 2009, (Please follow the lin
k below). (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7589174.html)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, PA Nov-2007 to pres
ent
Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA Nov-2007 to present
Sr. Research Investigator, Department of cardiothoracic Surgery
1) Investigating a self-initiated study on the signaling cross talk betw
een metabolic reprogramming-driven switch of ATP-dependent HSP90 family chaperon
s and androgen deprivation in metastasis process of prostate cancer. This stud
y is under progress.
2) Investigating a translational research in a major collaborative appro
ach with clinicians and validating the signaling pathway that elicits disuse atr
ophy and contractile dysfunction in mechanically ventilated human diaphragms.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* A leading bench to bedside translational study transitioning into a clinical s
tudy aimed at therapeutic mitigation of diaphragmatic atrophy
* This study led to the inception of proposals that were funded by National Inst
itute of Health (NIH)
* Publication in highly rated journal- American Journal of Respiratory and Criti
cal Care Medicine.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA Sept-2002 to Nov-20
07
The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL Jun-2001 to Aug-2002
Sr. Research Associate, Department of pathology and laboratory medicine
Successfully executed development of an immunotherapeutic T cell vaccine
useful in tumor immunotherapy. Validated the vaccine using cutting edge multid
isciplinary technologies and tools.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Product patent, US-2008-0199486-A1.
* Several publications in peer reviewed journals and two more are in manuscript
form.
* This study yielded multiple NIH and in-house hospital funding and employment o
pportunities.
Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA Summer 1999
Visiting Scientist
Investigated and established a mechanism of cytolytic destruction of inv
ading pathogens in gastropod, Busycon canaliculatum.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* This study was published in the MBL bulletin (1999) and gained high importance
(276 PubMed citations).
* Travel award and sabbatical grant award to carry out this research.
Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Calcutta, India 1995 to 2001
(Council of Scientific and Industrial Research)
Principal Scientist, Division of Immuno Biology
Studied comparative immunology and trained undergraduate students the su
bjects- nutrition and Biochemistry.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* An excellent experience of developing new course curriculum and project plans
for teaching with hands on laboratory experience and of having interaction with
students from diverse background.
* Achieved funding from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to carry out r
esearch for three years.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute
, New Delhi, India.
M.Sc. Biochemistry (major), University of Calcutta, Calcutta, India.
B.Sc. Nutrition (Honors), Biochemistry, Chemistry, University of Calcutta, Calc
utta, India.
PUBLICATION
1. Increased Proteolysis, Myosin Depletion and Atrophic AKT-FOXO Signaling in Hu
man Diaphragm Disuse.
Levine S, Biswas C, Dierov J, Barsotti R, Shrager JB, Nguyen T, Sonnad S
, Kucharchzuk JC, Kaiser LR, Singhal S, Budak MT, Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 201
0 Sep 10. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 20833824
2. IL-4 suppresses dendritic cell response to type I interferons.
Sriram U, Biswas C, Behrens EM, Dinnall JA, Shivers DK, Monestier M, Arg
on Y, Gallucci S., J Immunol. 2007 Nov 15;179(10):6446-55.
3. The peptide-binding activity of GRP94 is regulated by calcium.
Biswas C, Ostrovsky O, Makarewich CA, Wanderling S, Gidalevitz T, Argon Y
., Biochem J. 2007 Jul 15;405(2):233-41
4. The N-terminal fragment of GRP94 is sufficient for peptide presentation via
professional antigen-presenting cells.
Biswas C, Sriram U, Ciric B, Ostrovsky O, Gallucci S, Argon Y. Int Immuno
l. 2006 Jul;18(7):1147-57.
5. Identification of the N-terminal peptide binding site of glucose-regulated p
rotein 94.
Gidalevitz T, Biswas C, Ding H, Schneidman-Duhovny D, Wolfson HJ, Steven
s F, Radford S, Argon Y., J Biol Chem. 2004 Apr 16;279(16):16543-52.
6. Radicicol-sensitive peptide binding to the N-terminal portion of GRP94.
Vogen S, Gidalevitz T, Biswas C, Simen BB, Stein E, Gulmen F, Argon Y.,
J Biol Chem. 2002 Oct 25;277(43):40742-50.
7. Investigation on interaction of Achatinin, a 9-O-acetyl sialic acid-binding
lectin, with lipopolysaccharide in the innate immunity of Achatina fulica snails
.
Biswas C, Sinha D, Mandal C., Mol Immunol. 2000 Aug-Sep;37(12-13):745-54
8. The role of amoebocytes in endotoxin-mediated coagulation in the innate immu
nity of Achatina fulica snails.
Biswas C, Mandal C., Scand J Immunol. 1999 Feb;49(2):131-8.
9. Serine proteinase from rice bean.
Basu PS, Biswas C, Majhi R, Datta TK., Indian J Biochem Biophys. 1996 De
c;33(6):491-7.
10. Identification of a Hemolytic Activity in the Plasma of the Gastropod Busyc
on canaliculatum.
- Related articles
Biswas C and Armstrong, PB. REPORTS FROM THE MBL GENERAL SCIENTIFIC MEETI
NGS
www.biolbull.org/cgi/reprint/197/2/276.pdf - Similar
References available upon request

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Chhanda Biswas, Ph.D.