Irina Meln, PhD

Experience

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  Institute of Cytology of  the Russian Academy of Science

  Sept 2002 - Jul 2007

  Research Assistant

  Scientific project in embryonic stem cells.

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  Almazov National Medical Research Centre

  Nov 2007 - Jul 2013

  Research Coordinator

  Multiple clinical projects focused on cell-based diagnostic and therapeutic approachesMain scientific achievements:• Development of in vitro model of endothelial dysfunction by culturing human endothelial cells in high glucose/lipid content medium (from patients after high fat meals) and characterization of physiological (growth curve, viability, senescence) and molecular (Akt-NO-signaling pathway) changes• Large international clinical collaborative project «SICA-HF» (Studies Investigating Co-morbidities Aggravating Heart Failure) with partners from Germany, UK, Italy, Poland, and Slovenia. I analyzed endothelial functions after culturing with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) - conditioned medium, using primary MSC cultured established from samples from different group of patients with obesity, T2DM, heart failure.• Molecular mechanisms of cross talk between normal and hematopoietic versus leukemic stem cells with their marrow niche as targets for specific therapy. I established in vitro model of bone marrow niche including MSC and endothelial cells for HSCs expansion. Show less

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  Novartis

  Feb 2008 - Jul 2013

  Clinical diagnostic analyst (permanent, part-time)

  Cinical trials of different therapeutics for CML patients:• Communication and coordination of clinicians for visit preparation,• Sample collection control, requisition forms/documents processing and administration of logistic

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  DKFZ Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum

  Aug 2013 - Jun 2018

  Signaling networks connecting systemic metabolism to stem cell responses during development of childhood obesity.Main achievements: • Development of a diet-induced mouse model of childhood obesity (incl. characterization of metabolic outcomes)• Identification of novel genes that play a role in adipose tissue remodeling (incl. performing gene expression profiling from adipose tissue and specific cell subpopulations and raw data analysis)• Establishing a co-culture system to simulate the in vitro adipose tissue niche for functional validation of candidate genes (high throughput siRNA screening and high content microscopy, incl. image data analysis)• Optimizing in vivo and in vitro EdU labeling for adipose tissue progenitor cell proliferation assessment using FACS (up to 7 colors)• Supervising: bachelor student (Thesis grade 1.0 out of 1.0, maximum from Heidelberg University), master student (3 month rotation and 6 month Master thesis) and TAs. Show less

  • Postdoctoral Researcher

    Dec 2016 - Jun 2018

  • Researcher PHD Student

    Aug 2013 - Dec 2016
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  European Vaccine Initiative (EVI)

  Nov 2019 - now

  Fostering innovation through strategic partnerships Alliance management - building new exciting projects, fundraising (strategy and implementation). Coordination of clinical development projects, communication with partners (academia, industry, grant agencies, CRO), preparation of project documentation (agenda, minutes of meeting, reports), projects website content development.

  • Head of Innovation

    Mar 2024 - now

  • Senior Innovation Manager

    Nov 2021 - Jun 2024

  • Project and Innovation Manager

    Nov 2020 - Oct 2021

  • Project Manager

    Nov 2019 - Oct 2020