PhD in Genetics, Molecular Biology and Botany gives classes gives classes in Montreal

John's Resume

John Raelson Ph.D. (concealed information) (concealed information)
Geneticist, Molecular Biologist,
Biotechnology Executive,
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Summary of Experience
Human geneticist and molecular biologist with 15 years of technical and leadership experience in the R&D sector of the biotechnology and diagnostics industries. Past experience includes writing scientific texts, SOPs, FAQs for biotech research company. Co-founder of biotechnology company, performing a key role in strategic development of genomic and genetics programs, including the recruitment of 47,000 subjects for a DNA sample bio bank, recruitment and direction of a team of statisticians and programmers for the development of methodologies for performing 11 genome wide association studies (GWAS) for complex genetic diseases, and for pharmacogenomic analysis. Contract work with a major pharmaceutical company for the genetic analysis of drug response endpoints in pharmacogenetics clinical trial. Researcher at CRCHUM with diabetes research group working on genetics of complications of type 2 diabetes
Professional Experience
July 2013 to 2016
Researcher with diabetes research group at the Centre de Recherches du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM).
Responsibilities:
 Consultation in and development of scientific methodology trouble shooting for genetic analysis of diabetes complications.
 Writing English scientific text and co-ordination of preparation of scientific papers that report the research results of the group. Multiple peer review papers have been published.
July 2014 to Present
Consultant and Chief Scientific Officer for Red Maple Bio Inc. a natural health products company
Responsibilities:
 Writing scientific literature reviews of clinical support for applications to Health Canada for obtaining licenses for company’s natural health products.
 Multiple licenses have been obtained.
March 2011 - 2015
Genetics Consultant to pharmaceutical company, Merck-Serono SA, Geneva, Switzerland,
Responsibilities:
 Performing genetic analysis of patient response to growth hormone treatment in the PREDICT pharmacogenomic clinical trial.
 Review and editing of genetics component of scientific articles reporting results.
 Multiple peer review articles published
Consultant to Génome Québec
 Organizing and annotating genetic data inherited from Genizon biosciences
March 2000 - July 2011
Co-founder and executive director of genetics and biomarker discovery for Genizon Biosciences, a human genetics biotechnology company.
Genizon was committed to discovery of biomarkers of complex genetic diseases.
Roles and Responsibilities:
 Key role in development of scientific strategy of the company.
 Participation on the senior management team
 Scientific director for collaborations with pharmaceutical companies for pharmacogenomic studies
 Liaison with key scientific opinion leaders on Scientific Advisory Board
 Creation and oversight of a team of 7 individuals including statisticians, computer programmers and molecular biologists directed towards the identification and validation of DNA biomarkers for disease diagnostics and patient stratification for clinical trials.
 Oversight of the analysis of genome wide association (GWAS) data for 11 complex genetic diseases.
 Trouble shooting of problems associated with genetic analyses
 Participated in the design and recruitment of 40,000 sample DNA bio bank.
 Direction of a team of PhD molecular biologist who were writing scientific research protocols for human genetic research for ethic review boards Delivering scientific presentations to potential clients and collaborators
 Creation and presentation of scientific presentations explaining Genizon’s science to potential clients, collaborators and investors
 Interface with outside scientists representing potential partners
December 1996 – 2000
Geneticist then Director of Genetics for Algène Biotechnologies
Algène biotechnologies was a biotech company devoted to discovery in the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease
Roles and Responsibilities:
 Development of strategies and statistical computer algorithms for LD mapping of genes for biomarker discovery in Alzheimer’s disease
 Presentations for business development and outside collaborations
 Presentation of scientific programs and results to industrial and academic partners
 Performance of genetic analysis to discover biomarkers for schizophrenia in collaboration with large European pharmaceutical company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals
1994- 1996
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec
Accomplishments:
 Design and execution of research project on mechanisms of action of retinoic acid in treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia
 Design and performance of experiments in protein expression analysis, cell culture and transformation, and DNA and RNA biochemistry,
 Development of method of in vitro transformation of cultured APL cells with PML/RAR expression vectors
 Development of a series of oligo DNA probes for PCR sequencing of the PML/RAR oncoprotein in APL leukemia cell lines
 Development of high throughput method for assessing levels of in vitro expression of CAT reporter vector
 Identification of the PML/RAR oncoprotein as a direct target of retinoic acid therapy
 Wrote successful peer reviewed publications on PML/RAR regulation by RA therapy and on characterization of gene expression and protein levels in various mutant cultured APL cell lines
1991-1993
Research Scientist, Department of Human Genetics, Montreal Children’s Hospital and McGill University
Responsibilities:
 Design and execution of experiments to clone causal genes and identify genetic mutations associated with simple Mendelian genetic diseases
 Development of laboratory procedures for DNA/RNA extraction, Sequencing, DNA mutation detection, RNA expression probes, and quantitative measurement of levels of protein translation.
Accomplishments:
 Mapping of location of chromosomal gene for cystineuria to chromosome 2 and identification of specific disease mutations
 In situ mapping of location of expressed somatostatin receptor sub types in rat brains.
 Two peer reviewed publications of research results.
1990-1991
Genetics Research Consultant, Agriculture Canada and Quaker Oats, Oat Genome Mapping Team
Responsibilities:
 Participation in team that constructed a microsatellite DNA marker map for oats.
 Development of DNA markers within specific chromosomal locations, for which standard techniques had failed to identify sufficient numbers, using cytogenetic techniques of chromosomal micro-dissection
Accomplishments
 Successful construction of the first genetic map for oats
 Recipient of Agriculture Canada 1999 “Agcellence Award” for exceptional accomplishment in Innovation for the success of the project
Education
Dalhousie University, School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Biotechnology Training Program, 1989-1990
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec – Ph.D. in Genetics, 1988
Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania – MSc. Degree in Agronomy (Land Reclamation), 1982
McGill University, Montreal Quebec, B.Sc. in Botany and Environmental Science, 1977
McGill University, Montreal Quebec, B.A. Phil. 1971
References: Available upon Request
Hobbies
Systematic and field botany, history, Chinese martial arts of Yang and Chen Tai Chi Chuan, Xing Yi Chuan and Qi Gong, cooking