Tran Doan Ngoc Tran-Prasad, DVM, Ph.D.

I’m officially part of Beacon Therapeutics – a company striving to develop innovative gene therapies for the treatment of retinal diseases. A lot of exciting things coming up over the next year so watch this space!

• Performed cutting-edge AAV gene therapy research for preclinical programs in multiple therapeutic areas of ophthalmology (Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration), rare neurological diseases (Frontotemporal Dementia, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and otology (Non-syndromic hearing loss and deafness). • Prepared nonclinical section of PreIND package, PreIND meeting request and organized PDT meeting for Progranulin project. • Edit Gene Therapy Times and contact key opinion leaders in the fields to collaborate and move project forward. • Hands-on experience with AAV transgene construct design for ALS trivalent construct, molecular cloning, and testing vector transduction in vitro. • Developed and optimized cell-based assay to support for non- syndromic hearing loss and deafness gene expression, GLP tox study of Frontotemporal Dementia in non-human primate. • Prepared plasmids to deliver codon optimized rep/cap constructs to be used in herpes-assisted vector expansion for AGTC central nervous system program, followed through by producing crude AAV and initiating infection tests. • Performed potency assay in Frontotemporal Dementia in collaboration with the preclinical research and development team, and proposing to the executive team a new AAV gene therapy target. • Shared scientific resources, information, and experience in the training, developing and mentoring of research associates within the team and with other teams in the company, resulting in more collaboration.

I extended a period of time for maternity leave. I learned NIH clinical trial research, FDA regulations about investigational new drugs, drug discovery, regulatory requirements, business administration and customer service in the industry.

As an associate of Cheeky Scientist, I'm connected with a worldwide of PhD students and Postdocs who want to transition from academia into industry.

• Gained hands-on experience in primary/neuronal, organotypic cultures, rodent surgery, molecular cloning, immunostaining and confocal microscope. Successfully established protocol for young/adult rodent organotypic culture. • Instructed and supervised one lab technician and three graduate students in their projects. Mentored and coordinated in 5 projects which resulted in 2 on-going papers and RO1 NIH grant proposal. • Successful phone calls negotiator with cell culture, biotechnology, and vector builder companies for discount of different consumables and reagents. Ensured follow-ups and reported different stages on project’s progress and products.

• Performed molecular biology, western blot, subcellular fractionation, mass spectrometry, neuronal and insect cell culture, cell proliferation assay, transfection, and protein purification from insect cell lines and bacteria. • Oversaw and trained one postdoc and one master student who got accepted in medical school. Gained teaching experience by attending microteaching activities. • Successfully moderated conversation with cell culture, chemical and biotechnology companies for free of charge/discount products.

• Recognized for discovering the in-vitro effect of Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 4 ion channel, histamine and arginine vasopressin hormone on stem cell differentiation and Ca2+ signaling for the first time. Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills showed by collaborating with five projects with different universities and institutions. • Gained teaching and leadership experience by instructing, supervising three graduate students, three veterinary students and two lab personnel. • Effectively communicated and achieved the discount/promotion with chemical company, biotechnological company for reagents.

• Effectively assisted the director, marketing and sales in aquaculture cooperation project with overseas company. • Assisted head of Virology research department to conduct vaccine experiments/techniques and was one of the only two persons selected to attend the training “Hog cholera vaccine” in Australia. • Meticulously inspected the viral vaccine manufacturing process and resolved the complaints, disputes among the departments. • Ensured that marketing, sales, quality control, manufacturing worked in harmony about product performance issues, troubleshooting product quality. • Addressed technical and customer inquiries. • Created well-prepared research/technical brochures, delivered product training, fostered seminars/trade shows for the company and foreign collaborators. • Mentored and educated students from various universities about the company and the process of manufacturing viral vaccines.

• Contacted and negotiated with new foreign suppliers for feed additive and agricultural commodity, supervised techniques for feed mills, vaccine companies, and research institutes. • Excellent teamwork and collaborative skills by facilitating with other division. Flexible organized research/technical seminars, directed customer visits for foreign principals. • Navigated shipment and logistics of goods, management from foreign countries to Vietnam, completed product registration procedures for principals. • Maintained good relationship and communication with the principals, customers/distributors, and government authorities. • Logistics and management (weekly plan, weekly report, project management report, customer management report etc.)

• Performed veterinary duties such as administering vaccinations and drugs, artificial insemination, delivering and caring for newborn piglets at the swine farm. • Determined the quality of carcasses in slaughterhouse according to law, clinical diagnosis to animal diseases and support to small animal surgery at the veterinary stations. • Collected samples and detected the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria from swine, canine, rodents and poultry.