Jani Saksi

Consultant in preclinical cardiometabolic research and genetics.

3D liver Organoid and Primary Hepatocyte Cell-Based Assay Development • Contributed to the development of 4 primary hepatocyte cell-based drug discovery assays. • Evaluated the impact of the Fabkin hormone complex and its antibody inhibitors on 4 physiological parameters, including lipid synthesis and glucose production. • Assisted in high-throughput screening assay development for 2 antibody discovery programs, yielding 4 preclinical candidate molecules and advancing 1 to nonhuman primate testing. • Directed research strategy, assessed data quality, and interpreted data from 3D liver organoid cell culture systems to create a liver organoid-based drug screening program for selected antibody candidates.

Design and Development of mRNA-Based Medicines. • Managed 4 different mRNA-based R&D programs including CRO interactions. • Experience in tissue specific LNP mediated mRNA formulation and delivery to key metabolic organs. • Conceptualized 2 novel intervention targets for cardiometabolic diseases and drove these programs toward stage gate 0. • Designed and tested novel mRNA-based constructs in vitro, as well as designed in vivo studies for these molecules. • Provided scientific direction, research strategy, assessed data quality, and conducted data interpretation from these studies.

Target-Based Drug Discovery and Preclinical Development of Therapeutic Antibodies • Conducted target-based drug discovery and preclinical testing for obesity-related conditions (NAFLD, atherosclerosis, type 1 and 2 diabetes). • Secured $5M in milestone-dependent funding from external partners. • Conceptualized drug discovery process, and managed timelines in 2 multidisciplinary drug development projects with diverse project teams across academia, industry and CRO partners. • Ensured milestone achievements, scientific rigor, and Go/No-Go decisions in candidate molecule development. • Developed a novel tissue-specific AAV-mediated immunization scheme, increasing antibody titers by 20-40%. • Discovered the Fabkin hormone complex, with contributions to a Nature publication (2021). • Co-authored high-impact papers (Nature 2021, Cell 2017) leading to a licensed patent (WO/2021/226600). • Presented findings, secured $150K in fellowship funding, and managed 4 Research Assistants with diverse technical skills.

Drug Target Discovery in Cardiovascular Diseases • Investigated atherosclerosis mechanisms, identifying a novel therapeutic target for atheroma destabilization through transcriptome screening. • Analyzed data with GeneSpring, Affymetrix MicroArray Suite, and bioinformatics tools, normalizing and identifying differentially expressed genes and enriching pathways and GO terms. • Validated top 9 candidate genes at mRNA and protein levels using Westerns, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. • Employed genetic screening to discover cis-acting functional SNPs on 5 top candidate genes associated with symptom state in atherosclerotic lesions. • Established 4 academic collaborations to assess cis-acting SNP roles in atherosclerosis progression in over 10,000 patients. • Utilized targeted genotyping, imputation analysis, and Mendelian randomization. • Co-authored 14 peer-reviewed papers and received The Young Investigator Award in 2015 from the European Atherosclerosis Society for a first-author publication (Circ. Cardiovasc. Genet. 2014).