Andrei Golovko, Ph.D., MBA

PROFILE

A highly motivated and results-oriented Biologist with with exceptional organizational skills, and proven ability to lead interdisciplinary research teams. Outstanding analytical, creative problem solving abilities, and demonstrated success in Business Administration and Product Development. Skilled in many aspects of biotechnology with significant experience in DNA and RNA manipulation and analysis, genetic transformation, transgenic analysis, cell and tissue culture techniques and animal models. Multilingual English- Russian-Ukranian.

EDUCATION

 Ph.D., Biotechnology                                                                               2003

Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering, Kiev, Ukraine;

MBA, Marketing                                                                         2001

Rutgers University, Graduate School of Management, Newark, NJ

M.S., Microbiology with Honors                                                                 1998

Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia         

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RESEARCH&DEVELOPMENT

Schering-Plough Corp., Kenilworth, NJ                                                 Scientist I                                                                               2002-present

• Designed, created and analyzed several lines of genetically modified mice carrying null mutations for various potential drug targets including NPC1L1, the proven target for Schering’s blockbuster drug Zetia.

• Constructed vectors and used them to achieve RNAi-mediated down-regulation of several murine genetic targets both in-vitro and in-vivo.

• Developed and successfully used Taqman-based gene expression profiling assays.

• Genotyped and maintained more than 60 transgenic and knockout mouse lines.

Icon Genetics, Princeton, NJ                                                                              Senior Research Biologist                                                         2001

• Developed fast and inexpensive method that allows produce up to a milligram of high purity pharmaceutical proteins in just a week at one-tenth of the regular costs.

• Generated a number of proprietary scientific concepts and filed two Records of Invention.

American Cyanamid/BASF Corporation, Princeton, NJ  

Research Biologist                                                           1995-2001

• Directed an intradepartmental team in the successful completion of four Transgene Management projects resulting in three patents and four Records of Invention.

• Engineered a very reliable system for transcriptional and translational control of transgene expression.

• Constructed more than 200 vectors that were used in projects on promoter optimization and transcriptional and translational control of transgene expression.

• Developed several novel methods for soybean and sugar beet tissue culture manipulation.

Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering, Kiev, Ukraine             Research Biologist                                                                     1992-1995

• Achieved genetic transformation of sugar beet (a crop that is still considered as almost impossible to transform) and analyzed transgene expression in transgenic crops using DNA and protein-based methods.

• Established protocols for analysis of transgene expression in transgenic crops using DNA and protein-based methods.

CENTER FOR BIOENGINEERING, MOSCOW, RUSSIA                                Technician                                                                                   1991-1992

• Created a novel method for identification of Bacillus thuringiensis / cereus subspecies using plasmid profiling.

• Screened for insect-pathogenic strains and isolated genes responsible for delta-toxin synthesis.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION                                             

Landviser, Inc, Westampton, NJ                                                                  Financial Manager                                                                           2001-present

•  Developed a business concept and wrote a 100+ pages business plan including a 5 year marketing plan and financial projections that became a cornerstone of the business.

•  Served as a bookkeeper.

• Prepared and filed tax returns.

Diamond Travel System, Westampton, NJ                                           General Manager                                                                           2001-present

• Established the business and then managed the day-to-day activities.

• Set up the credit card acceptance system and used it to bring more individual customers: the sales rose from $5,000 to $150,000 in three years. 

•  Prepared and filed tax returns.

MAJOR SKILLS

•    DNA Techniques

Vector construction, PCR and primer design, Southern bolt analysis, DNA fingerprinting, automated DNA sequencing and sequencing data analysis, genomic and plasmid DNA isolation and purification, genotyping.  

•   RNA / Expression Analysis Techniques

Total RNA and mRNA isolation, RT-PCR, expression analysis via Taqman, SYBR green Northern blot methods, in vitro transcription to generate RNA probes (DIG labeled probes).

•  In Vitro and In Vivo Techniques

Mouse embryonic fibroblast isolation and cultivation, ES cell transfection and maintenance, pancreatic islet isolation and cultivation, EAE animal model, necropsy and tissue collection, animal colony management.

• Other biological techniques

SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA, microscopy (light, phase-contrast, electronic, laser scanning confocal fluorescence), nuclei isolation, particle gun bombardment, electroporation and other methods for direct DNA transformation into cells, various plant genetic transformation and tissue culture techniques. 

•  Computer techniques

o        Systems: IBM or Macintosh

o        Software: Microsoft Office, Adobe PhotoShop, Prizm, FileMaker

o        Programming language: BASIC

o       Bioinformatics: Clone Manager, Primer Designer, Vector NTI, various DNA or protein sequence alignment and analysis software. Knowledge of database searches (e.g. Gene bank, EST and Blast search) and web-based molecular analysis tools

Management skills:

•  Project management: supervision of multiple projects simultaneously

•  Personnel management: experience in managing scientists

• Excellent presentation and communication skills

  Marketing skills:

• Market analysis: market segmentation, consumer behavior

• Marketing research: survey preparation, MDS, conjoint analysis, cluster analysis

• Marketing strategy: product positioning and pricing

• R&D strategy: PLC, theory of disruptive technologies

 AWARDS AND GRANTS

 Schering Plough President’s award (Role of NPC1L1 protein in intestinal cholesterol absorption).  2004

International Soros Science Education Program competitive grant               1995

Academy of Science of Ukraine competitive grant for young scientists      1995

Winner of Moscow State University Annual Chemical Olympiad                 1987

PATENTS 

• Golovko A. Methods for somatic embryo formation and plant regeneration of Beta vulgaris. United States Patent  6,555,375,  April 29, 2003

• Golovko A, Hall G Jr. Modified tet-inducible system for regulation of gene expression in plants. United States Patent Application 20030084484, May 1, 2003

• Bascomb N, Bossie M, Skarjinskaia M, Hirayama L, Hall G, Petty T, Golovko A, Campo M. Commercial use of Arabidopsis for production of human and animal therapeutic and diagnostic proteins. United States Patent Application 20050034187, February 10, 2005

• Co-PI on additional 6 Records of Invention in Cell Biology, Biotechnology, and Genetic Engineering

 PUBLICATIONS

1.       Kowalski TJ, Spar BD, Markowitz L, Maguire M, Golovko A, Yang S, Farley C, Cook JA, Tetzloff G, Hoos L, Del Vecchio RA, Kazdoba TM, McCool MF, Hwa JJ, Hyde LA, Davis H, Vassileva G, Hedrick JA, and Gustafson EL. 2005. Transgenic overexpression of neuromedin U promotes leanness and hypophagia in mice. J. Endocrinol., V. 185, pp. 151-164.

2.       Reich EP, Cui L, Yang L, Pugliese-Sivo C, Golovko A, Petro M, Vassileva G, Chu I, Nomeir AA, Zhang LK, Liang X, Kozlowski JA, Narula SK, Zavodny PJ, Chou CC. 2005. Blocking ion channel KCNN4 alleviates the symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice. Eur J Immunol., V. 35, No 4, pp. 1027-1036. 

3.       Altmann SW, Davis HR Jr, Zhu LJ, Yao X, Hoos LM, Tetzloff G, Iyer SP, Maguire M, Golovko A, Zeng M, Wang L, Murgolo N, Graziano MP. 2004. Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 protein is critical for intestinal cholesterol absorption. Science, V. 303, No 5661, pp. 1201-1204.

4.       Funes S, Hedrick JA, Vassileva G, Markowitz L, Abbondanzo S, Golovko A, Yang S, Monsma FJ, Gustafson EL. 2003. The KiSS-1 receptor GPR54 is essential for the development of the murine reproductive system. Biochem Biophys Res Commun., V. 312, No 4, pp. 1357-63. 

5.       Golovko A. 2001. Genetic variability of somatic embryogenesis in tissue cultures of sugar beet breeding lines. Cytology and Genetics, V. 35, No 6, pp. 10-17. 

6.       Bannikova MA, Golovko AE, Khvedynich OA, Kuchuk NV, Gleba YY. 1995. Regeneration of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) plants in in vitro culture. Histological analysis of regeneration. Cytology and Genetics, V. 29, No. 6, pp. 14-21. 

7.       Girich AM, Chrep NN, Skarzhinskaya MV, Golovko AE, Gleba YY. 1995. Genetic transformation of oil rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) using Agrobaterium tumefacienns. Cytology and Genetics, V. 29, No. 2, pp. 20-25. 

8.       Golovko AE, Golyshin PN, Ryabchenko NF. 1993. Bacillus thuringiensis in the environment and experiment. Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences Publications, pp.27-35.

9.       Golovko AE, Golyshin PN, Ryabchenko NF. 1993. Significance of Bacillus thuringiensis in natural biocenoses. 1993. The Journal of Microbiology, v.55, No. 3, pp.110.

10.   Ostroumov SA, Golovko AE. 1992. Biotest of toxicology of an active substance (sulfonol) using rice as a test-object.  Hydrobiological Magazine, v. 28, No. 3, pp. 72-75.

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