Gustavo E. Chavarria, Ph.D.323-314-1760

gchavarrian@gmail.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gustavochavarria

Highlights of Qualifications

• Unique combination of both practical industrial manufacturing experience and post graduate academic training that manifests in a strong desire to focus research efforts on the development of commercial products.

• Strong experience using biochemical, molecular and cellular biology techniques.

• Extensive experience in assay design and optimization, drug discovery, structure-activity relationships, enzymology, cell-based assays, detection of small molecule in biofluids

• Solid analytical, statistical and data management skills.

• Strong supervisory and developmental skills.

• Excellent communications, interpersonal and presentation skills in both English and Spanish.

Professional Experience

Research Scientist I July 2014 - Present BioVision Inc, San Francisco Bay Area, CA

• Initiated, researched and developed a series of high-throughput adaptable, in vitro products and cell-based assays for the detection of biomarkers related to renal based diseases such as Acute Kidney Injury, and Chronic Kidney Disease, amino acid detection, enzyme activity, sample preparation and other relevant small molecules found in biofluids.

• Prepared projects that included design, optimization of the experiments, reproducibility, relevant biological samples (including yeast, bacterial, plant and mammalian specimens), final product stability tests, and submission of proper documentation. Documentation includes summarizing scientific findings, final product data sheet, quality assurance specifications, production guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures.

• Supervised the production team and supported Quality Control group for the manufacturing processes and validations of specific developed projects as final products. Supported Technical Support and Marketing teams by providing scientific reports and feasibility of possible molecular targets which could be potentially explored as new products, answering customer’s specific technical questions, providing technical information for blogs, info graphics. Collaborated with other scientists when required.

• Some of the developed assays included: Albumin, Protenuria (Albuminuria), Sodium, Urine Albumin-to Creatinine Ratio (UACR), Formaldehyde, Glycine, Tryptophan, β-N-Acetyglucosaminidase Activity, Bilirubin, Sulfite, Deproteinizing Sample Preparation (using TCA), Bile Acids, Collagen, and Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) biological activity by using TF-1 cells (human erythroleukemic cells).

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Post-Doctoral Scientist January 2013 - June 2014 BioVision Inc, San Francisco Bay Area, CA

• Developed in vitro and cell-based products that can be used for researchers in diverse areas including General Biochemistry, Metabolism, Cancer, Skin Care, Diabetes, Neurological Disorders, and bacterial infections for the detection of small molecules, and enzymatic activity, and drug discovery.

• Developed biological sample applications and protocols for the company’s best-selling products (i.e. Hydroxyproline, Lactate, Cholesterol, Creatinine, Glucose, Glycogen, Triglycerides, ATP, NAD/NADH ratio, Glutamate, Urea, Uric Acid, Ammonia, among others). Validations were made by comparing results previously reported in scientific literature. Sample applications included human fluids, mammalian cell culture, food, beverages, yeast, bacteria, fish, mammalian tissues.

• Some of the developed assays included: Acetoacetate, β-Hydroxybutyrate, D-Lactate, Glutamine, Tyrosine, Tyrosinase Inhibitor Screening, Monoamine Oxidase A/B, Invertase, β-Lactamase Activity Assay and β-Lactamase Inhibitor Screening.

• Attended National Scientific Conferences representing the company. Interacted with existing and potential customers answering technical questions about diverse products.

Research Assistant August 2006 – December 2012 Baylor University, Waco, TX

Dissertation: "Kinetic Characterization of Thiosemicarbazones as Cysteine Protease Inhibitors and Their Potential Use as Therapeutic Agents against Metastatic Cancer and Chagas’ Disease"

• Developed in vitro biochemical assays for the evaluation of three different cysteine proteases: Human Cathepsin L, human Cathepsin K and recombinant cruzain, a parasitic protease, using fluorescent substrates.

• Conducted in vitro screening of a library of 165 synthetic compounds sharing a thiosemicarbazone (TSC) moiety as potential cysteine proteases inhibitors. The Structure-Activity Relationships for each molecular target were established. It was found that a number of TSC were potent and selective inhibitors of human Cathepsins L and K, and cruzain. Kinetic parameters, mechanisms, and mode of inhibitions of selected TSC were determined. Established that two active TSCs were able to inhibit the collagenase activity of cathepsins L and K, and the activation of procathepsin K.

• Developed cell-based assays and demonstrated that selected cathepsin L inhibitors delayed both cell migration and cell invasion of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

• Developed UV/Vis and HPLC assays to determine the release of active effectors from bioreductive prodrugs using human DT diaphorase, NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase (human and rat supersomes).

• Studied the effect of potential tubulin-binding agents on MDA-MB-231 (human breast cancer cell line) and HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) signaling processes by investigating the role of Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors in vascular disruption by RNAi and the up-regulation and/or inhibition of specific protein targets by Fluorescent Western Blotting (p38, MAPK, AKT, Fyn, Src, N-Cadherin).

• Mentored the research work of five undergraduate students by teaching basic and advanced spectrophotometric biochemical techniques and molecular modeling software

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demonstrating that TSC are potent inhibitors of recombinant cruzain.

Teaching Assistant August 2006 – December 2012 Baylor University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Waco, TX

• Taught Laboratory Courses for undergraduate level in General, Analytical, Inorganic, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry.

• Developed course materials, laboratory lectures, homework assignments, presentations. Assisted students with homework and preparation for exams. Prepared and proctored exams. Worked under supervision of the main faculty for the course.

• The list of Chemistry laboratories included Laboratory Measurements and Techniques, Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory, Modern Biochemistry Laboratory.

Student Athlete Tutor August 2008 – December 2011 Baylor University, Department of Student-Athlete Services, Waco, TX

• Provided academic assistance, on a regularly schedule basis, to assigned Student-Athletes in several courses in Chemistry and/or Spanish.

• Created aids for tutor sessions that included sample tests, study guides. Helped and guided students on how to approach their assigned homework by analyzing their strengths and difficulties.

• Maintained academic integrity with NCAA regulations throughout tutoring process.

Process Engineer December 2004 – July 2006 SABMiller (world’s second largest brewer), El Salvador

• Supervised the purification and bottling processes of the leading drinking water purification operation in El Salvador.

• Responsible for quality assurance throughout the purification and bottling process which involved supervisory responsibilities for eighty employees.

• Designed and created processes and reports that monitored key performance indicators (KPI) to ensure optimal production performance.

• Implemented and managed numerous international audit systems (ISO9000, OSHA, IBWA, and HACCP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP)

• Designed integrated reports that served as the basis for presentations to executive management regarding the financial and operational performance in key areas such as raw material usage, production volume, equipment, facility, manpower and waste management minimization

• Supervised the purification and bottling processes in the leading plant of drinking water in El Salvador. Main activities included the supervision of eighty employees and quality assurance throughout the process and final products.

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• Designed and created reports for daily, weekly, and monthly productions that helped to monitor the plant capabilities and functionality of its operations.

• Managed and supervised the correct implementation of several international audit systems (ISO9000, OSHA, IBWA, and HACCP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP).

• Designed complete reports that helped to build financial and operation budgets for drinking water plants, including: operational costs, raw material, and waste generation forecasts, salary personnel costs, required personnel (per line of production), production volumes, estimation of plant capabilities, equipment requirement and costs.

Volunteer Experience

Executive Council (Treasurer) August 2010 – April 2012 Baylor University Graduate Student Association (GSA), Waco, TX

• Managed and provided the financial status of GSA, an organization that includes 1400 graduate students distributed in 39 graduate programs. Assisted and provided help to the Graduate School for the development of projects related to the graduated body.

Education

Ph.D. Chemistry (Biochemistry Division) December 2012 Baylor University, Waco, Tx

B.S. Chemical Engineering October 2004 Universidad Centroamericana “José Simeón Cañas”, El Salvador

Grants and Fellowships

OXiGENE, Inc. August 2007-December 2012 “Biochemistry and Cell Biology OXiGENE Core Gran Focusing on the Tumor Microenvironment”

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) January 2011-December 2011 “Investigation of Highly Potent Benzosuberene Analogs as Novel Anticancer Agents”

National Institutes of Health (NIH) January 2011-December 2011 “Chemotherapeutic Agents with Enhanced Selectivity for the Tumor Microenvironment”

Baylor University August 2010-December 2011 “Biochemical Evaluation of Cathepsin Enzymes”“Evaluation of Cathepsin K Inhibitors for Potential Application to the Treament of Advanced Cancer”

Technical Skills

• Protein biochemistry: enzyme kinetics, enzyme inhibition, electrophoresis, western blotting, assay development, collagen degradation assay, colorimetric assay, fluorescent assay

• Spectroscopy/Analytical techniques: fluorescence, UV/Vis, CD, ITC, HPLC, Nanodrop, microscopy, ultracentrifugation

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• Cell culture (BSL-2): maintenance, SRB, Calcein AM cell viability, cell invasion, cell migration, wound healing assay, cell uptake, angiogenesis, MDR, Melanogenesis, CNTF Biological Activity

• Molecular biology: PCR, qPCR, RNAi

• Others: Molecular modeling, drug discovery, Structure-Activity Relationship, Chemotherapeutic Agents, Small-Molecule Inhibitors

Professional Development

• Blood Borne Pathogen Training and Mammalian Cell Culture, Baylor University, 2012, Waco, TX

• 2012 Annual Meeting, The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San Diego, CA

• Laboratory Waste Management Workshop. 67th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, 2011, Austin, TX

• Radiation Safety Training - Certified Radiation Worker. Baylor University, 2011, Waco, TX

• 241st ACS National Meeting, 2011, American Chemical Society, Anaheim, CA

• 24th National Association of Graduate Student Professional Students, Cambridge, MA

• 2010 Annual Meeting, The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Anaheim, CA

• Manager and Middle Supervisors Leadership, Dale Carnegie Training Center, 2005, El Salvador

Professional Societies

American Chemical Society 2010 - Present The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2009 - Present

Software Packages

Languages

Scientific Publications

• Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Kishore Kumar, G. D.; Jones, Lindsay M.; Song, Jiangli; MacDonough, Matthew T.; Yoo, Grace K.; Locke, Ashleigh; Deliz, Rafael; Chaplin, David J.;

GraphPad Prism Matlab SAP

Accelrys Discovery Studio Photoshop R

Microsoft Office

English (Fluent) Spanish (Native)

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Pinney, Kevin G.; Trawick, Mary Lynn. Thiosemicarbazones as potent and selective inhibitors of cathepsin K. (In preparation).

• Song, Jiangli; Jones, Lindsay M.; Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Charlton-Sevcik, Amanda; Jantz, Adam; Johansen, Audra; Bayeh, Liela; Soeung, Victoria; Snyder, Lindsay K.; Lade, Shawn D.; Chaplin, David J.; Trawick, Mary Lynn; Pinney, Kevin G. Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Cathepsin L Incorporating Functionalized Ring-Fused Molecular Frameworks. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2013, 23(9), 2801-2807.

• Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Horsman, M. E.; Arispe, Wara M.; Kishore Kumar, G. D.; Chen, Shen-En; Strecker, Tracy E.; Parker, E. N.; Chaplin, David J.; Pinney, Kevin G.; Trawick, Mary Lynn. Initial evaluation of the antitumour activity of KGP94, a functionalized benzophenone thiosemicarbazone inhibitor of cathepsin L. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2012, 58(12), 568-572.

• Song, Jiangli; Jones, Lindsay M.; Kishore Kumar, G. D.; Conner, Elizabeth S.; Bayeh, Liela; Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Charlton-Sevcik, Amanda K; Trawick, Mary Lynn; Chaplin, David J.; Pinney, Kevin G. Synthesis and Biochemical Evaluation of a series of Non-peptidic Thiochromanone Thiosemicarbazone Analogues as Cathepsin L and B Inhibitors. ACS Med. Chem. Lett., 2012, 3(6), 450–453.

• Kishore Kumar, G. D.; Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Charlton-Sevcik, Amanda K.; Yoo, Grace, K.; Song, Jiangli; Strecker, Tracy E.; Siim, Bronwyn G.; Chaplin, David J.; Trawick, Mary Lynn; Pinney, Kevin G. Functionalized benzophenone, thiophene, pyridine, and fluorene thiosemicarbazone derivatives as inhibitors of cathepsin L. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2010, 20, 6610-6615.

• Kishore Kumar, G. D.; Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Charlton-Sevcik, Amanda K.; Arispe, Wara M.; MacDonough, Matthew T.; Strecker, Tracy E.; Chen, Shen-En; Siim, Bronwyn G.; Chaplin, David J.; Trawick, Mary Lynn; Pinney, Kevin G. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of potent thiosemicarbazone based cathepsin L inhibitors. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2010, 20(4), 1415-1419.

Selected Presentations

• Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Strecker, Tracy E.; Kishore Kumar, G. D.; Jones, Lindsay M.; Chaplin, David J.; Pinney, Kevin G.; Trawick, Mary Lynn. Kinetic Analysis and Antitumor Activity of Thiosemicarbazone Benzophenone Inhibitors of cathepsin L. Experimental Biology EB 2012, San Diego, CA, April 21-25, 2012. (Poster)

• Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Soeung, M.; Guillory, J.D.; Kishore Kumar, G. D.; Arispe, Wara M.; Adamson, L. J.; Yoo, J. Song; Pinney, K.G.; Trawick, Mary-Lynn. Thiosemicarbazones as low nanomolar inhibitors of cruzain. Abstracts of Papers, 67th Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Austin, TX, November 9-12, 2011 (Presentation)

• Trawick, Mary Lynn, Pinney, Kevin G.; Chaplin, David, J.; Horsman, Michael R.; Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Arispe, Wara M.; Kishore Kumar, G. D.; Development and initial evaluation of the antitumour activity of a functionalized benzophenone thiosemicarbazone inhibitor of cathepsin L. Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research ; Orlando, FL, April 2-6, 2011. (Poster)

• Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Kishore Kumar, G. D; Jones, Lindsay M.; MacDonough, Matthew T.; Yoo, Grace Kim; Locke, Ashleigh; Deliz, Rafael; Chaplin, David J.; Siim, Bronwyn G.; Chen, Shen-En; Pinney, Kevin G.; Trawick, Mary Lynn. Thiosemicarbazones as potent and selective cathepsin K inhibitors. Abstracts of Papers, 241th ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, CA, March 26-31, 2011 (Poster)

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• Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Enzweiler, B.J.; Coffer, John. From Conception to Birth: Advocating for a Family-Friendly Policy in Nine Months. Presentation. 24th National Association of Graduate-Professional Students, Cambridge, MA, November 11-14, 2010. (Presentation)

• Chavarria, Gustavo E.; Wiley, Jacob A.; Kishore Kumar, G. D.; Arispe, Wara M.; Li, Weiyue, Adamson, Lauren J.; Jones, Lindsay M.; MacDonough, Matthew T.; Pinney, Kevin G., Trawick, Mary Lynn. Analysis of novel low nanomolar thiosemicarbazone inhibitors of cruzain. Experimental Biology EB 2010, Anaheim, CA, April 24-28, 2010. (Poster)

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