Dominic Schwarz

Development of 3 drug candidates from conception to portfolio entry: cellular therapies, bispecific antibodies, immunocytokines, ADCs, DACs - Converting learnings from the CAR-T cell therapy space into next-generation antibody-based therapeutics. - Evaluation of next-generation ADCs and align with key managing stakeholders to ensure the concept aligns with Roche‘s therapeutic vision. - Data analysis of RNAseq data set - Self-motivated learning of agentic intelligence and AI/ML protein design

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) funded the creation of an Innovative Training Network (ITN) for Optimizing Adoptive T Cell Therapy of Cancer (T-OP). In the course of this program i was recruited to Roche Glycart AG in Zürich, to develop next generation cell therapy products. - Developed cytokine armored CAR-T cells that entered the preclinical portfolio of Roche. - Developed immunocytokines for cancer immunotherapy for the preclinical portfolio of roche - Evaluated bicistronic lentiviral vectors for TRUCKs and reproduced key technologies in the in vivo CAR-T space. - Globally collaborated with scientists (genentech, CROs, in vivo teams) - Published 2 patents - Drafted 2 additional patent applications - 3 high-impact first author publications and 2 other publications pending revisions

As an intern, i contributed to pharma research and development (pRED) at Roche in Penzberg. The team engineers, screens and develops therapeutic, bispecific FAb antibody molecules which can coagulate two targets at the same time. I was involved in engineering and evolving novel binders and therapeutic concepts, as well as the automation of their microscreening scale production process to increase the screening throughput to ~10000/week in large phage display output libraries.

Independent development of a EM reporter optimized for mammalian cells and connectomics applications which is awaiting publication in 2023. Establishment of Clear-Native PAGE as a novel method in the lab to achieve better fluorescent and luminescent readouts from gel-based assays. Gained independent experience in working in mammalian cell culture and a wide variety of other molecular biology and biochemical methods including (molecular cloning, TEM, Confocal Imaging, qPCR, ELISA, Immunochemistry)

Refinement of scientific data from 3 scientists of one group to convey a clear research portfolio for an ERC consolidate grant proposal and achieved critical funding for five years

Taught 16 students molecular cloning in an introductory course. Critical oversight of results from team members and consequent problem solving. Coordination and support in organizing experiments for a subgroup of 4 students.

Establishment of an FPLC purification strategy for chemically-modified fusion proteins. Bioengineering of complex ubiquitin topologies via amber codon supression and orthogonal sortases currently awaiting publication

Production of azido-glycyl-glycyl-Lysin (AzGGK) using sold phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Development of additional unnatural amino acids for amber codon supression and directed evolution of amino-acyl tRNA synthetase

Formulation of chemically modified (bio)-polymers as a non-toxic scaffold for 3D cell culture. Published as "Programming Diffusion and Localization of DNA Signals in 3D‐Printed DNA‐Functionalized Hydrogels" in Small (16.31)

Generation of a KO-strain of E. Coli with reduced immunogenicity. Assistance in the development of a cell-free expression system in a 5L stirred-tank reactor optimized for manufacturing bacteriophages for therapy2. Leader of a creative team for award-winning science presentation and documentation.

Production of genetically modified HEK293T, Jurkat, Min6K8 cell lines in a highly parallelized workflow in an S2 environment Assistance in the Development of a minimal invasive Exon-tagging System in Mammalian Cells

Assistance in processing patient-derived clinical swabs for immunological and microbial determination under GLP / GMP standards in a Safety level 2 and 3 environment

Maintenance of cell culture and contribution in protein purification for proteomic analysis of immunological pathways

Grade: 0.7 - summa cum laude The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) funded the creation of an Innovative Training Network (ITN) for Optimizing Adoptive T Cell Therapy of Cancer (T-OP). In the course of this program i was recruited to Roche Glycart AG in Zürich, to develop next generation cell therapy products. - 2 patents acccepted and 3 first author publications pending