Marlyn Payne

Duties and Responsibilities: • Provide technical leadership and direct supervision to junior scientists and associates, supporting training, troubleshooting, and execution of product development laboratory and GMP manufacturing activities. • Lead onboarding and training of direct reports on assay execution and documentation. • Support cell therapy manufacturing operations in a GMP manufacturing facility, performing hands-on cleanroom and laboratory work in compliance with approved procedures and quality requirements. • Execute end-to-end cell processing workflows including cell activation, viral transduction, nucleofection (RNP complexes), expansion, harvest, cryopreservation, and recovery of drug product (DP) cells. • Assist with batch record documentation, including preparation, real-time execution support, review, reconciliation, and correction to ensure accuracy, traceability, and GMP compliance. • Perform and support flow cytometry–based assays to assess cell viability, phenotype, and transduction efficiency in support of manufacturing readiness and process development. • Author, review, and revise GMP-controlled documents, including protocols, SOPs, technical reports, deviations, and data transfer worksheets. • Contribute to risk assessments and FMEAs, identifying critical process risks and supporting mitigation strategies. • Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Quality, and Analytical Development teams to support technology transfer, process optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives. • Maintain strict adherence to GLP/GMP requirements, ensuring data integrity, material traceability, equipment readiness, and compliant operations.

Duties and Responsibilities: • Lead scientist overseeing LabCorp animal study to test BSB drug product (DP) and testing safety profile of DP through various immunological assays; one of two lead scientists helping transfer protocol/techniques to manufacturing company • Developed an understanding of the requirements of the technical aspects of a recombinant TCR program both scientifically and the need for manufacturing a quality product • Generation of modified T-cells (Gene-edited and transduced) for preclinical studies • Support the development of best practices for modified T-cell culture expansion through the use of required biological assays, culture platforms, and media optimization • Competent in standard tissue culture practices and both molecular and immunological assay development • Working under limited supervision with a high level of autonomy • Problem-solving by driving the analysis of highly complex issues and identification of significant improvements, changes, or adaptations of existing methods and techniques • Develop solutions that require extensive analysis and detailed investigation, be able to communicate the findings in a persuasive manner • Other duties as assigned

Work on a team that is developing novel therapeutics in the field of TCR-based adoptive T-cell therapies; engaged in executing experiments to evaluate key steps and developing assays that will be transferred to the manufacturing program, either immunology or molecular biology-based. Position main roles: • Generation of modified T-cells (Gene-edited and transduced) for preclinical studies • Lentivirus production of vectors involved in clinical manufacturing process • Perform and optimize immunological assays (Flow cytometry, ELISA, T-cell functional assays – cytotoxicity and cytokine production) • Tissue culture including the application of aseptic techniques for media preparation, passaging, maintenance, and cryopreservation of cell cultures – suspension and adherent cells • Assist, plan and execute various experiments with report to Director/VP of development team • Present individual project work on weekly basis to higher ups and team members

Position main roles: • Maintaining current inventory of equipment as well as inventory of all consumables, cleanliness and neatness of lab areas, including prep areas. • Assist with arranging equipment, equipment replacement services and repairs while participating in ongoing experiments and assisting senior scientists.

Position main roles: Conducting experiments for various projects within the lab; gathering, interpreting, recording research and consolidating data into publishable formatting; mentoring students and other faculty on various techniques/experiments; assists with protocol development and other necessitates for the laboratory.

Masters in science degree: specializing in biomedical science with a concentration in cancer biology and immunology; [Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC (Research advisor: Hui-Wen Lo, PhD] In Dr. Hui-Wen Lo’s laboratory I investigated how a novel transcription factor within the hedgehog pathway mediated immune invasion and increased tumor progression. Our laboratory discovered the existence of truncated glioma-associated oncogene homolog (tGLI1), and have uncovered many functions indicating that it behaves as a gain-of-function homolog to increase tumor progression and angiogenesis. Along with those discoveries, Dr. Lo and I decided to investigate if tGLI1 has immunomodulatory roles. During my masters thesis, I discovered that tGLI1 increases the expression of program death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in the most aggressive types of breast cancers, namely triple negative breast cancer and her2+, which lack treatment options. Masters Thesis Main topics: • Examine tGLI1-expressing breast cancer’s ability to secrete factors to promote the polarization of brain microglia cells to become tumor supportive • Determine the mechanism tGLI1-expressing breast cancer evade the anti-tumor immune response via the immune checkpoint pathway

Within Dr. Catherine Lohmann’s animal behavior lab, I studied the sensory biology, neuroethology, behavior, and evolution of marine animals. My role in the lab was to help determine how the magnetic field affects sea turtle and salmon navigational systems.

Former student researcher in Dr. Rita Tamayo’s lab where I studied the phase variation mechanisms in the intestinal pathogen Clostridioides difficile as well as the cell signaling molecule c-di-GMP and their regulation mechanisms.

Phlebotomy training at UNC medical center

Student laboratory work: Phlebotomy training at UNC medical center; Laboratory work in: Microbiology, Immunology, Hematology, Urinalysis, Body fluids, Immunohematology and Clinical Chemistry.

Received high school diploma and associates degree at same time. (Dual enrollment)

Received high school diploma and associates degree at same time. (Dual enrollment)