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Hire Dr. Christina X W.

Canada

USD 120 /hr

Senior Molecular Biologist | PhD | Specializing in Rare Genetic Disorders, Variant Validation, and Complex Cell Biology

Profile Summary

Senior Research Scientist & Molecular Biologist (PhD) I am a PhD-level scientist with over 19 years of post-doctoral experience at world-class research institutions, including the University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Hospital, and The Ohio State University. My career is defined by the functional characterization of complex biological systems and the molecular validation of pathogenic mechanisms in rare genetic disorders. Core Expertise & Research Impact: Rare Disease & Functional Genomics: I specialize in the characterization of novel genetic variants. Most recently, I have led the functional validation of PIK3CB gain-of-function variants in neurodevelopmental syndromes, establishing conclusive signaling models through four manuscript iterations. Signal Transduction Specialist: I possess deep expertise in deciphering non-linear signaling networks, specifically the PI3K/AKT/mTOR, p53/PML, and SIRT6 pathways. I am adept at identifying compensatory feedback loops in patient-derived cell models. Advanced Molecular Techniques: Expert in high-precision methodologies, including Lentiviral system design, Confocal Microscopy (FISH), EMSA, qPCR, and complex Western Blotting analysis for protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Pathogen-Host Interactions: I have a significant background in molecular microbiology, specifically in isolating and characterizing anaerobic bacteria and studying the regulation of major membrane proteins in intracellular pathogens. Educational Background & Professional Leadership: I hold a PhD in Molecular Biology and have completed four post-doctoral fellowships across diverse fields, including oncology, aging, and infectious disease. Beyond the bench, I am an experienced mentor who has supervised graduate students and visiting scholars, ensuring the highest standards of data integrity and experimental design. I offer scientific consulting for manuscript preparation, experimental strategy, and the interpretation of complex molecular data.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Genetics
• ★ Cell Biology
• ★ Cell Signaling Pathways
• ☆ Microbiology
• ☆ Microbiome Research
• ☆ Parasitology
• ☆ Virology
• ☆ Molecular Virology
• ☆ Industrial Microbiology
• ☆ Microbiological Assays
• ☆ Bacteriology
• ☆ Gram-Negative Bacteria
• ☆ Gram-Positive Bacteria
• ☆ Agricultural Microbiology
• ☆ Biochemistry
• ☆ Immunoassay
• ☆ Biochemical Assays
• ☆ Structural Biology
• ☆ Apoptosis
• ☆ Oxidative Stress & Mitochondrial Function
• ☆ Antioxidants
• ☆ Enzyme Activity Assays
• ☆ Binding Assays
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ Biomarkers
• ☆ Microarrays
• ☆ Molecular Evolution
• ☆ Chromatin
• ☆ PCR
• ☆ Molecular Cloning
• ☆ Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
• ☆ ATAC-Seq
• ☆ DNA Sequencing
• ☆ Synthetic Genomics
• ☆ Protein Sequencing
• ☆ Gene Expression Analysis
• ☆ Genome Sequencing
• ☆ Microinjection
• ☆ Mutagenesis
• ☆ Exome Sequencing
• ☆ Recombinant DNA
• ☆ RNA Synthesis
• ☆ RNA Sequencing
• ☆ DNA/Gene Synthesis
• ☆ Oligonucleotide Synthesis
• ☆ Plasmid DNA
• ☆ DNA Damage & Repair
• ☆ ChIP-Seq
• ☆ Kinases
• ☆ Monoclonal Antibody Production
• ☆ Molecular Ecology
• ☆ Cell-Based Assays
• ☆ Cytochemistry
• ☆ Cytogenetics
• ☆ Membrane Biology
• ☆ Gene Regulation
• ☆ Stem Cell Research
• ☆ Biophysics
• ☆ Histology
• ☆ Biotechnology & Bioengineering
• ☆ Recombinant Protein Expression
• ☆ Nanobiotechnology
• ☆ Microscopy
• ☆ Cryosectioning
• ☆ Light Microscopy
• ☆ Electron Microscopy
• ☆ Fluorescence Microscopy
• ☆ Scanning Probe Microscopy
• ☆ Pathogenesis
• ☆ Clinical Microbiology
• ☆ Biomarker Discovery
• ☆ Cell Culture
• ☆ Primary Cells
• ☆ Cell Banking
• ☆ Cell Line Engineering
• ☆ Large Scale Cell Culture
• ☆ Cell Surface Receptors
• ☆ 3D Cell Culture
• ☆ Biomolecular Engineering
• ☆ Gene Synthesis
• ☆ Genetic Engineering
• ☆ Gene Editing/CRISPR
• ☆ Protein/Enzyme Engineering
• ☆ Antibody Engineering
• ☆ Gene Delivery
• ☆ Blotting
• ☆ Immunohistochemistry
• ☆ Phylogenetics
• ☆ Population Genetics
• ☆ Veterinary Medicine
• ☆ Cytometry
• ☆ Cell Aging
• ☆ Veterinary Pathology

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI

Writing Medical Writing, Copywriting, Creative Writing, General Proofreading & Editing, Translation

Research User Research, Technology Scouting, Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Image Processing

Work Experience

Senior Research Technologist

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

January 2019 - Present

Post-Doctoral Researcher

The Ohio State University

January 2026 - January 2026

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa

May 2013 - May 2014

Post-Doctoral Researcher

University of Toronto

May 2009 - February 2013

Post-Doctoral Researcher

Princess Margaret Hospital

May 2007 - January 2008

Education

Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Biology

The Ohio State University

January 2001 - June 2006

Masters in Microbiology

Fudan University

September 1995 - June 1998

Bachelors in Science (Microbiology)

Fudan University

September 1990 - June 1995

Certifications

• Nutrition, Diet, and Health Science Diploma

  Ashworth College

  May 2015 - Present

• Clinical Research Associate Certificate

  Michener Institute

  March 2013 - Present

Publications

PREPRINT

Hendrikus J. van Heesbeen, Nazim Rabouhi, Aurélie Gouronc, Angéline Preto, Justine Rousseau, Jade Charbonneau, Antonio Vitobello, Ange-Line Bruel, Anne-Sophie Denommé-Pichon, Estelle Colin, et al. (2026). ARID5B mutations cause a neurodevelopmental syndrome with neuroinflammation episodes .

JOURNAL ARTICLE

White-Brown A, Marshall A, Wang X, Tran M, Keays T, Dyment DA (2025). A Noncanonical Splice Variant in RTEL1 Responsible for Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis . American journal of medical genetics. Part A.

Del Gobbo GF, Wang X, MacDonald SK, Liang Y, Care4Rare Canada Consortium, McMillan HJ, Lemire G, Boycott KM (2024). A Novel De Novo Splice Acceptor Variant in BICD2 Is Associated With Spinal Muscular Atrophy . American journal of medical genetics. Part A.

Del Gobbo GF, Wang X, Couse M, Mackay L, Goldsmith C, Marshall AE, Liang Y, Lambert C, Zhang S, Dhillon H, et al. (2023). Long-read genome sequencing reveals a novel intronic retroelement insertion in NR5A1 associated with 46,XY differences of sexual development . American journal of medical genetics. Part A.

Bhola PT, Marshall AE, Liang Y, Couse M, Wang X, Miller E, Morel CF, Boycott KM, Kernohan KD (2023). RNA sequencing to support intronic variant interpretation: A case report of TRAPPC12-related disorder . American journal of medical genetics. Part A.

Thulasirajah S, Wang X, Sell E, D&#225;vila J, Dyment DA, Kernohan KD (2022). A De Novo Missense Variant in <i>TUBG2</i> in a Child with Global Developmental Delay, Microcephaly, Refractory Epilepsy and Perisylvian Polymicrogyria . Genes.

Huang Y, Lemire G, Briere LC, Liu F, Wessels MW, Wang X, Osmond M, Kanca O, Lu S, High FA, et al. (2022). The recurrent de novo c.2011C>T missense variant in MTSS2 causes syndromic intellectual disability . American journal of human genetics.

Lemire G, Zheng B, Ediae GU, Zou R, Bhola PT, Chisholm C, de Nanassy J, Lo B, Wang C, Shril S, et al. (2021). Homozygous WNT9B variants in two families with bilateral renal agenesis/hypoplasia/dysplasia . American journal of medical genetics. Part A.

Mansouri S, Pan Q, Blencowe BJ, Claycomb JM, Frappier L (2014). Epstein-Barr virus EBNA1 protein regulates viral latency through effects on let-7 microRNA and dicer . Journal of virology.

Salsman J, Wang X, Frappier L (2011). Nuclear body formation and PML body remodeling by the human cytomegalovirus protein UL35 . Virology.

Sarkari F, Wang X, Nguyen T, Frappier L (2011). The herpesvirus associated ubiquitin specific protease, USP7, is a negative regulator of PML proteins and PML nuclear bodies . PloS one.

Huang H, Lin M, Wang X, Kikuchi T, Mottaz H, Norbeck A, Rikihisa Y (2008). Proteomic analysis of and immune responses to Ehrlichia chaffeensis lipoproteins . Infection and immunity.

Cheng Z, Wang X, Rikihisa Y (2008). Regulation of type IV secretion apparatus genes during Ehrlichia chaffeensis intracellular development by a previously unidentified protein . Journal of bacteriology.

Wang X, Cheng Z, Zhang C, Kikuchi T, Rikihisa Y (2007). Anaplasma phagocytophilum p44 mRNA expression is differentially regulated in mammalian and tick host cells: involvement of the DNA binding protein ApxR . Journal of bacteriology.

Wang X, Kikuchi T, Rikihisa Y (2007). Proteomic identification of a novel Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA binding protein that regulates a putative transcription factor . Journal of bacteriology.

Xiong Q, Wang X, Rikihisa Y (2007). High-cholesterol diet facilitates Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection and up-regulates macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and CXCR2 expression in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice . The Journal of infectious diseases.

Huang H, Wang X, Kikuchi T, Kumagai Y, Rikihisa Y (2006). Porin activity of Anaplasma phagocytophilum outer membrane fraction and purified P44 . Journal of bacteriology.

Wang X, Kikuchi T, Rikihisa Y (2006). Two monoclonal antibodies with defined epitopes of P44 major surface proteins neutralize Anaplasma phagocytophilum by distinct mechanisms . Infection and immunity.

Lin Q, Rikihisa Y, Felek S, Wang X, Massung RF, Woldehiwet Z (2004). Anaplasma phagocytophilum has a functional msp2 gene that is distinct from p44 . Infection and immunity.

Wagner ER, Bremer WG, Rikihisa Y, Ewing SA, Needham GR, Unver A, Wang X, Stich RW (2004). Development of a p28-based PCR assay for Ehrlichia chaffeensis . Molecular and cellular probes.

Xueqi Wang, Jun Huang, Deqing Zhou (2000). A study of solid medium cultivation for Bifidobacterium bifidum. Journal of Fudan University. Natural Science, 01 Jan 2000, 39(3):323-326.

Shulin Ju, Xueqi Wang, Deqing Zhou (1998). Improvement on culture media of Bifidobacterium bifidum. Journal of Fudan University. Natural Science, 01 Jan 1998, 37(2):186-190.