Qinshan Gao

Primary lead for virology and molecular biology-related discovery efforts within Discovery Biologics. • Served as the virology expert for the circular RNA influenza vaccine early discovery project, providing cross-functional support to colleagues in the Infectious Disease and Vaccine therapeutic area. • Led a team and executed VSV pseudovirus neutralization assays to discover pan-coronavirus therapeutic antibodies. Published findings in Sci Rep as a key co-author. • Led and executed early discovery efforts for oncolytic virotherapy and cancer vaccines. Was the first in the field to engineer the oncolytic virus CVA21 to carry small therapeutic payloads and identified new strategies for CVA21 systemic delivery. Published findings in the Journal of Virology as corresponding author. • Built the primary cell lentiviral transduction system for use in CAR-NK cell therapy, overcoming the issue of inefficient transduction efficiency in primary cells. Engineered receptor knockout cell lines and boosted yields by 100 to 1,000-fold. • Led the cell-based assay group for large molecule therapeutics discovery (including small compounds for antibody-drug conjugates, ADCs) for oncology and immunology projects. Managed a team of up to 5 scientists and Co-ops. • Standardized both internal and outsourcing procedures for cell line development across the department, reducing costs and shortening timelines. • Championed new technologies and led the establishment of a microfluidics-based single droplet large molecule library screening platform. • Managed the early discovery research portfolio within Early Biologics and Technologies, facilitating communication between management and project leaders. • Mentored junior colleagues and Co-ops, providing career guidance as part of the SSF site mentor program

Key molecular virologist specializing in recombinant DNA virus generation for use as live vaccines or gene delivery vectors, leading research efforts and championing new technologies. • Led efforts in recombinant virus generation technology, inventing new methods using CRISPR gene editing. This significantly increased the speed of vaccine candidate generation for multiple projects. • Project team leader for live vector vaccine technology search and evaluation. Oversaw due diligence for a Vaccinia viral vector collaboration with a foreign partner. • Technical lead and core team member of multiple ongoing vaccine projects. Actively involved in project proposals, candidate generation, analytical strategy setup, and clinical sample analysis and report writing. • Led and executed CHO stable cell line generation efforts for critical reagent production.

• Key member of molecular virology group focusing on recombinant DNA virus generation for use as live vaccine or gene delivery vector o Bench work and molecular virology expert in modifying virus genomes for multiple projects in cattle, swine and poultry o Virus isolation, purification and characterization • Team leader of universal influenza vaccine initiative o Led and facilitated university collaborations and new vaccine technology evaluations o SME in Zoetis internal killed and live flu vaccine projects for swine and cattle • CHO stable cell lines generation o Designed protein expression constructs o Generated stable cell lines using CHROMOS for critical reagent generation purpose o Tested stability, protein production of individual clones

• Designing vaccines against influenza and other infectious diseases. • Developing vaccine and gene delivery vectors using influenza viruses and Newcastle disease viruses. • Developing Bird Flu vaccines for Avimex, a vaccine company in Mexico for several years. • Investigating the influenza virus genome packaging mechanism and using the obtained knowledge to design safer and multivalent vaccines. • Teaching medical students Medical Microbiology Lab course; instructing graduate students on designing and executing various research projects.