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Hire Dr. Michael J.

United States

Dr. James is a PhD scientist offering medical science and bioscience consulting, writing, editing and review services.

Profile Summary

BACKGROUND I am an experienced scientist, consultant and writer with a background of deep expertise in medical and biological science. My PhD in microbiology was obtained in the study of the oncogenic transformation of human cells by DNA tumor viruses. My professional research career began in the study of novel oncology targets identified by genome wide association and functional genetics studies. Using molecular and cellular biology approaches as well as murine modeling, I have elucidated roles and mechanisms for several proteins involved in tumor pathobiology with potential as oncology targets. I am a consultant for physicians, patients, academic researchers and the biotech/pharma industries. My writing and editing experience includes grant writing, scientific writing for top publishers such as Wiley and seven years as a specialty editor for scientific content, English grammar, clarity and flow, formatting, and organization of articles for peer review. Many of these articles have been for authors with English as a second language. I also serve as a scientific peer review and talent evaluation consultant. As Assistant Professor of Surgical Oncology at Medical College of Wisconsin I have directed a research program that investigates the role of stress signaling in chemoresistance and identification of targetable mechanisms for re-sensitization of tumors to drugs with a focus on pancreatic cancer. In the course of my research, I have published in several high-profile journals including Cancer Research PMIDs:24366883, 19622765; 19789337; International Journal of Cancer PMID: 30468251, Oncogene PMID: 19915612, Nature Precision Oncology PMID: 33654182 Nature Genetics PMID: 21614091. In the pursuit of more informative and representative disease models, I also developed and implemented a panel of primary human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma organoid cultures and three-dimensional models of the PDA tumor microenvironment: PMID: 29587663. As principal investigator, my work has been funded by grants written myself and submitted to American Cancer Society, National Science Foundation, and Wellcome Trust. I am also experienced in writing SBIR and STTR grants and have been a PI on an NSF SBIR grant to develop a nanoparticle lung delivery platform to deliver nucleic acid therapies to the lung and to be used to treat and prevent Covid-19. I founded Essential Biotechnology, LLC with the goal of developing and commercializing biologic inhibitors of CRR9/CLPTM1L. This venture was based on my discovery of a role for CLPTM1L in resistance of tumor cells to killing by anoikis and by chemotherapeutic stress. We have received accolades from Wellcome Trust, U.K., Licensing Executives Society International, Bridge to Cure, and SE Wisconsin Clinical and Translational Science Institute. In my role at Essential Biotechnology, I systematically developed and characterized fully human antibody inhibitors, and established preclinical data packages including MOA, activity, stability, affinity, specificity, tissue cross-reactivity, toxicity, and biodistribution data for presentation to scientific colleagues, investors, and licensing partners. AREAS OF EXPERTISE Oncology Tumoroids Organoids Tumor Microenvironment 3D TME Modeling Lung Cancer Pancreatic Cancer Ovarian Cancer Drug Development Targeted Therapeutics Immuno-oncology Antibody-Drug Conjugates Molecular Biology Cell Biology Drug Resistance Genetics GWAS Biomarkers Microbiology Immunology Virology JOURNAL REVIEW EXPERIENCE I have been invited and served as a reviewer for the following peer-reviewed publications: Dates Journal Impact Factor 2019 – Present Nature Protocols 11.334 2019 – Present EBioMedicine 6.68 2019 - Present Drug Development, Design and Therapy 3.082 2019 - Present Journal of Visualized Experiments 1.108 2018 – Present Theranostics 8.712 2018 – Present npj Precision Oncology 15.0 – 17.5 (projected) 2018 - present Cancer Biology and Therapy 2.879 2017 – Present Current Bioinformatics 1.189 2016 - Present Oncotarget 5.168 (2016) 2016 - Present Scientific Reports 4.122 2015 - Present World Journal of Gastroenterology 3.411 2016 - Present Experimental Lung Research 1.878 (2017) 2015 - Present Tumor Biology 3.650 (2016) 2015 - Present BMC Cancer 3.288 (2016) 2014 - Present Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology 3.503 (2016) 2013 - Present Molecular Carcinogenesis 4.808 (2014) 2012 – Present Annals of Human Genetics 2.211 (2014) 2009 - Present Int. J. Cancer 6.198 (2012) RESEARCH TALENT EVALUATION EXPERIENCE 2017 – Present Interviewer, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center Director Search 2014 – Present Interviewer, Department of Surgery Faculty Recruitment 2010 – Present Interviewer, MCW Cancer Center Faculty Recruitment 2019 – Present Grand Rounds Committee, MCW Department of Surgery

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Cancer Research
• ☆ Microbiology
• ☆ Biochemistry
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ Genetics
• ☆ Cell Signaling Pathways
• ☆ Cell Culture
• ☆ Medical Technologies
• ☆ Drug Design
• ☆ Drug Development
• ☆ Oncology
• ☆ Clinical Laboratory Science
• ☆ Blood Banking & Transfusion Medicine
• ☆ Immunotherapy
• ☆ Medical Sciences
• ☆ Cancer Biology
• ☆ Medical Writing

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI
• Product Development

Writing Clinical Trial Documentation, Technical Writing, Newswriting

Research Market Research, Feasibility Study, Fact Checking, Gray Literature Search, Systematic Literature Review, Secondary Data Collection

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Big Data Analytics

Product Development Product Evaluation, Product Validation, Concept Development

Work Experience

Scientific Peer Review and Talent Evaluation Consultant

Cactus Global

October 2015 - Present

Scientific Content Editor

Cactus Global

October 2015 - Present

Assistant Professor

Medical College of Wisconsin

October 2014 - Present

Research Assistant Professor

Medical College of Wisconsin

July 2010 - October 2014

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis

July 2006 - July 2010

Education

PhD

University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine

August 2000 - May 2006

MT(ASCP), CLS(NCA)

Mercy School of Clinical Laboratory Science

July 1997 - June 1998

Bachelor of Science, Microbiology, Cum Laude

Iowa State University

August 1992 - December 1996

Certifications

• MT

  ASCP

  July 2000 - Present

• CLS

  NCA

  July 2000 - Present

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Xiao, F., Zhang, P., Wang, Y., Tian, Y., James, M., Huang, C.-C., Wang, L., Wang, L.(2020). Single-nucleotide polymorphism rs13426236 contributes to an increased prostate cancer risk via regulating MLPH splicing variant 4 . Molecular Carcinogenesis. 59. (1). p. 45-55.

William R. Clarke, Laufey Amundadottir, Michael A. James(2019). {CLPTM}1L/{CRR}9 ectodomain interaction with {GRP}78 at the cell surface signals for survival and chemoresistance upon {ER} stress in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells . International Journal of Cancer. 144. (6). p. 1367--1378. Wiley

Clarke, W.R., Amundadottir, L., James, M.A.(2019). CLPTM1L/CRR9 ectodomain interaction with GRP78 at the cell surface signals for survival and chemoresistance upon ER stress in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells . International Journal of Cancer. 144. (6). p. 1367-1378.

Tsai, S., McOlash, L., Palen, K., Johnson, B., Duris, C., Yang, Q., Dwinell, M.B., Hunt, B., Evans, D.B., Gershan, J., et al.(2018). Development of primary human pancreatic cancer organoids, matched stromal and immune cells and 3D tumor microenvironment models . BMC Cancer. 18. (1).

Bodle, C.R., Mackie, D.I., Hayes, M.P., Schamp, J.H., Miller, M.R., Henry, M.D., Doorn, J.A., Houtman, J.C.D., James, M.A., Roman, D.L.(2017). Natural Products Discovered in a High-Throughput Screen Identified as Inhibitors of RGS17 and as Cytostatic and Cytotoxic Agents for Lung and Prostate Cancer Cell Lines . Journal of Natural Products. 80. (7). p. 1992-2000.

Puskás, L.G., Mán, I., Szebeni, G., Tiszlavicz, L., Tsai, S., James, M.A.(2016). Novel Anti-CRR9/CLPTM1L antibodies with antitumorigenic activity inhibit cell surface accumulation, PI3K interaction, and survival signaling . Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 15. (5). p. 985-997.

Lee, Y., Wang, Y., James, M., Jeong, J.H., You, M.(2016). Inhibition of IGF1R signaling abrogates resistance to afatinib (BIBW2992) in EGFR T790M mutant lung cancer cells . Molecular Carcinogenesis. 55. (5). p. 991-1001.

Lieberman, R., Xiong, D., James, M., Han, Y., Amos, C.I., Wang, L., You, M.(2016). Functional characterization of RAD52 as a lung cancer susceptibility gene in the 12p13.33 locus . Molecular Carcinogenesis. 55. (5). p. 953-963.

James, M.A., Vikis, H.G., Tate, E., Rymaszewski, A.L., You, M.(2014). CRR9/CLPTM1L regulates cell survival signaling and is required for ras transformation and lung tumorigenesis . Cancer Research. 74. (4). p. 1116-1127.

James, M.A., Seibel, W.L., Kupert, E., Hu, X.X., Potharla, V.Y., Anderson, M.W.(2014). A novel, soluble compound, C25, sensitizes to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through upregulation of DR5 expression . Anti-Cancer Drugs. 26. (5). p. 518-530.

James, M.A., Wen, W., Wang, Y., Byers, L.A., Heymach, J.V., Coombes, K.R., Girard, L., Minna, J., You, M.(2012). Functional characterization of CLPTM1L as a lung cancer risk candidate gene in the 5p15.33 locus . PLoS ONE. 7. (6).

Lu, Y., Liu, P., Van Den Bergh, F., Zellmer, V., James, M., Wen, W., Grubbs, C.J., Lubet, R.A., You, M.(2012). Modulation of gene expression and cell-cycle signaling pathways by the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib (Iressa) in rat urinary bladder cancer . Cancer Prevention Research. 5. (2). p. 248-259.

Liu, P., Morrison, C., Wang, L., Xiong, D., Vedell, P., Cui, P., Hua, X., Ding, F., Lu, Y., James, M., et al.(2012). Identification of somatic mutations in non-small cell lung carcinomas using whole-exome sequencing . Carcinogenesis. 33. (7). p. 1270-1276.

James, M.A., Fu, H., Liu, Y., Chen, D., You, M.(2011). Dietary administration of berberine or Phellodendron amurense extract inhibits cell cycle progression and lung tumorigenesis . Molecular Carcinogenesis. 50. (1). p. 1-7.

Freedman, M.L., Monteiro, A.N.A., Gayther, S.A., Coetzee, G.A., Risch, A., Plass, C., Casey, G., De Biasi, M., Carlson, C., Duggan, D., et al.(2011). Principles for the post-GWAS functional characterization of cancer risk loci . Nature Genetics. 43. (6). p. 513-518.

Wang, Y., James, M., Wen, W., Lu, Y., Szabo, E., Lubet, R.A., You, M.(2010). Chemopreventive effects of pioglitazone on chemically induced lung carcinogenesis in mice . Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 9. (11). p. 3074-3082.

Yan, L., Pengyuan, L., Weidong, W., James, M.A., Yian, W., Bailey-Wilson, J.E., Amos, C.I., Pinney, S.M., Ping, Y., De Andrade, M., et al.(2009). Haplotype and cell proliferation analyses of candidate lung cancer susceptibility genes on chromosome 15q24-25.1 . Cancer Research. 69. (19). p. 7844-7850.

You, M., Wang, D., Liu, P., Vikis, H., James, M., Lu, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, M., Chen, Q., Jia, D., et al.(2009). Fine mapping of chromosome 6q23-25 region in familial lung cancer families reveals RGS17 as a likely candidate gene . Clinical Cancer Research. 15. (8). p. 2666-2674.

Lu, Y., Yi, Y., Liu, P., Wen, W., James, M., Wang, D., You, M.(2007). Common human cancer genes discovered by integrated gene-expression analysis . PLoS ONE. 2. (11).

Vikis, H., Sato, M., James, M., Wang, D., Wang, Y., Wang, M., Jia, D., Liu, Y., Bailey-Wilson, J.E., Amos, C.I., et al.(2007). EGFR-T790M is a rare lung cancer susceptibility allele with enhanced kinase activity . Cancer Research. 67. (10). p. 4665-4670.

BOOK CHAPTER

Boyle, K.A., James, M.A., Tsai, S., Evans, D.B., Dwinell, M.B.(2018). Stromal inflammation in pancreatic cancer: Mechanisms and translational applications . Pancreatic Cancer. p. 481-508.