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Hire Dr. Gaurav M.

United States

USD 50 /hr

PhD Scientist | Freelance Scientific Writer | Oncology, Biomarkers & Translational Research with 15+ years of experience

Profile Summary

I am a Ph.D.-trained scientist in Biochemistry and Cancer Biology with 13+ years of experience spanning translational oncology research, bioassay development, and biologics and cell/gene therapy programs across academia and industry. My expertise centers on designing, optimizing, and validating potency and mechanism-of-action (MoA) assays, along with supporting regulatory submissions in GLP/GMP environments. Currently, as a Cell Therapy Scientist at Johnson & Johnson Innovation Medicine, I support clinical-stage immuno-oncology programs, including CAR-T therapies, by driving functional and molecular characterization, data analysis, and mechanism-of-action studies, particularly in the context of drug resistance. Previously, at Bristol Myers Squibb, I led the development, validation, and transfer of molecular bioassays (qPCR, digital PCR, NGS) for late-stage biologics and cell and gene therapy programs, while authoring regulatory documentation to support CMC and IND submissions. In my role at PMV Pharmaceuticals, I contributed to early-stage oncology drug discovery by developing high-throughput cell-based assays, including 3D spheroid models, and identifying predictive biomarkers and mechanisms of drug resistance. My academic research at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey focused on therapeutic resistance and cancer metabolism, leading to multiple peer-reviewed publications and successful grant funding as PI/Co-PI. I bring deep expertise in mammalian cell culture, 2D/3D tumor models, bioanalytical assay development (cytotoxicity, reporter, ligand-binding, ADCC/CDC), and advanced molecular techniques (CRISPR, qPCR/dPCR, flow cytometry). I also have extensive experience in assay transfer, laboratory automation (Hamilton, Opentrons), and cross-functional collaboration with CMC, QC, and discovery teams. I offer freelance expertise in: • Bioassay development, optimization, and troubleshooting (potency & MoA assays) • Cell and gene therapy analytical support • Translational oncology and biomarker strategy • Scientific and medical writing/editing (manuscripts, grants, reports) • Regulatory and technical documentation (IND/CMC, SOPs, validation reports) With a strong foundation in both experimental science and regulatory requirements, I help clients generate robust, reproducible data and translate complex scientific findings into clear, high-impact outputs for publication, clinical development, and regulatory submission.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Biochemistry
• ☆ Immunoassay
• ☆ Biochemical Assays
• ☆ Apoptosis
• ☆ Oxidative Stress & Mitochondrial Function
• ☆ Antioxidants
• ☆ Binding Assays
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ Microarrays
• ☆ Chromatin
• ☆ Epigenetics
• ☆ PCR
• ☆ Molecular Cloning
• ☆ Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
• ☆ ATAC-Seq
• ☆ Gene Expression Analysis
• ☆ Recombinant DNA
• ☆ RNA Synthesis
• ☆ Plasmid DNA
• ☆ DNA Damage & Repair
• ☆ ChIP-Seq
• ☆ Kinases
• ☆ Cell Biology
• ☆ Cell-Based Assays
• ☆ Cell Signaling Pathways
• ☆ Membrane Biology
• ☆ Gene Regulation
• ☆ Biomarker Discovery
• ☆ Cell Culture
• ☆ Primary Cells
• ☆ Cell Line Engineering
• ☆ Large Scale Cell Culture
• ☆ Cell Surface Receptors
• ☆ 3D Cell Culture
• ☆ Blotting
• ☆ Cytometry
• ☆ Cell Aging
• ☆ Oncology

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting

Writing Technical Writing, Copywriting, Creative Writing, Audio Transcription, General Proofreading & Editing

Research Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review

Consulting Healthcare Consulting, Scientific and Technical Consulting

Work Experience

Senior Scientist

Johnson & Johnson (United States)

December 2025 - Present

Scientist

Bristol Myers Squibb

September 2024 - December 2025

Scientist

PMV Pharmaceuticals

May 2022 - February 2024

Scientist - Cell Therapy Process Development

WuXi Advanced Therapies

November 2021 - May 2022

Postdoctoral Fellow

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

April 2016 - October 2021

Education

Ph.D. Biochemistry and Cancer Biology

The University of Toledo

August 2010 - May 2015

M.Sc.Biotechnology

University of Mumbai

August 2007 - May 2009

B.Sc. Biotechnology

University of Mumbai

August 2004 - May 2007

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Jariwala N, Mehta GA, Bhatt V, Hussein S, Parker KA, Yunus N, Parker JS, Guo JY, Gatza ML (2021). CPT1A and fatty acid β-oxidation are essential for tumor cell growth and survival in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer . NAR cancer.

Angus SP, Stuhlmiller TJ, Mehta G, Bevill SM, Goulet DR, Olivares-Quintero JF, East MP, Tanioka M, Zawistowski JS, Singh D, et al. (2021). FOXA1 and adaptive response determinants to HER2 targeted therapy in TBCRC 036 . NPJ breast cancer.

Mehta GA, Angus SP, Khella CA, Tong K, Khanna P, Dixon SAH, Verzi MP, Johnson GL, Gatza ML (2021). SOX4 and SMARCA4 cooperatively regulate PI3k signaling through transcriptional activation of TGFBR2 . NPJ breast cancer.

Khella CA, Mehta GA, Mehta RN, Gatza ML (2021). Recent Advances in Integrative Multi-Omics Research in Breast and Ovarian Cancer . Journal of personalized medicine.

Karagoz K, Mehta GA, Khella CA, Khanna P, Gatza ML (2019). Integrative proteogenomic analyses of human tumours identifies ADNP as a novel oncogenic mediator of cell cycle progression in high-grade serous ovarian cancer with poor prognosis . EBioMedicine.

Mehta GA, Khanna P, Gatza ML (2019). Emerging Role of SOX Proteins in Breast Cancer Development and Maintenance . Journal of mammary gland biology and neoplasia.

Thomas A, Routh ED, Pullikuth A, Jin G, Su J, Chou JW, Hoadley KA, Print C, Knowlton N, Black MA, et al. (2018). Tumor mutational burden is a determinant of immune-mediated survival in breast cancer . Oncoimmunology.

Marathe HG, Watkins-Chow DE, Weider M, Hoffmann A, Mehta G, Trivedi A, Aras S, Basuroy T, Mehrotra A, Bennett DC, et al. (2017). BRG1 interacts with SOX10 to establish the melanocyte lineage and to promote differentiation . Nucleic acids research.

Mehta GA, Parker JS, Silva GO, Hoadley KA, Perou CM, Gatza ML (2017). Amplification of SOX4 promotes PI3K/Akt signaling in human breast cancer . Breast cancer research and treatment.

Mehta G, Kumarasamy S, Wu J, Walsh A, Liu L, Williams K, Joe B, de la Serna IL (2015). MITF interacts with the SWI/SNF subunit, BRG1, to promote GATA4 expression in cardiac hypertrophy . Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology.

Mehrotra A, Mehta G, Aras S, Trivedi A, de la Serna IL (2014). SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling enzymes in melanocyte differentiation and melanoma . Critical reviews in eukaryotic gene expression.

Marathe HG, Mehta G, Zhang X, Datar I, Mehrotra A, Yeung KC, de la Serna IL (2013). SWI/SNF enzymes promote SOX10- mediated activation of myelin gene expression . PloS one.