Sunita Hett

Leading discovery biology team focused on therapeutic development for benign hematology.

Consultant to biotechnology companies ranging from stealth to mid-size; providing guidance on scientific strategy, preclinical development, technical expertise including assay development and comprehensive indication-specific due diligence.

Head of Research and corporate leadership team; established platforms for genetically engineered stem cell-based therapeutics; led teams in pioneering novel synthetic biology platforms for autoimmune diseases; coordinated internal and external efforts for delivery of key research study results.

Head of research and leadership team; advancing platforms supporting development of allogenic cellular and synthetic therapies for regenerative medicine and autoimmune indications.

Led Designer Platelet Team to establish novel means of achieving multiple means to modify stem cell-based therapeutics including genetic engineering, surface conjugation and cell loading; led in vivo pharmacology team in translational model development and preclinical pharmacology studies including efficacy, PK and biodistribution studies; contributed to IND-enabling studies including design of GLP and non-GLP toxicology studies.

Senior Manager, Clinical Sciences in Precision Medicine within Early Clinical Development

Project lead and in vitro pharmacology manager driving vitro assay development and support for early discovery, preclincal and clinical stage programs aimed at advancing novel large and small molecule therapeutics for treatment of hematologic disorders. My current areas of focus include coagulation and hemostasis, cellular adhesion, platelet and neutrophil biology, hemophilia and Sickle Cell Disease.

Development and execution of in vitro assays, including cell-based and coagulation assays, supporting discovery projects and pre-clinical studies within the Rare Disease portfolio for development of therapeutics for hemophilia and hematology.

As a scientist on early discovery projects, I engineered and expressed recombinant coagulation factor variants designed for enhanced activity and half-life. I assessed the activity of these variant coagulation factors in in vitro coagulation assays including thrombin generation assays and ROTEM. In addition, I conducted cell-based peptide phage display screens to identify peptides that enhance coagulation factor activity. Key techniques I employed included cell and molecule biology, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and coagulation assays.

Investigated molecular mechanisms in retinal vascular biology utilizing a combination of molecular, genetic and biochemical techniques. These studies are aimed at targeting therapies for ocular diseases including age-related macular degeneration and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Assessing the role of platelets in angiogenesis and tumor progression.

Examined the cytoskeletal mechanisms underlying blood platelet biogenesis.

I completed by doctoral dissertation in muscle biology while studying human physiology. I also served as a teaching assistant during medical physiology labs and tutored graduate and dental students.