Jason G.

Weinger 9769 Dartmoor Way, Elk Grove, CA 95757

jweinger@uci.edu 714-270-2708

Proven scientist dedicated to the discovery of therapeutics
for neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases

EDUCATION:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Bronx, NY
Ph.D. in Biomedical Science, Department of Pathology, 2009
M.S. in Biomedical Science, Department of Pathology, 2006

University of California, Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA
B.S. in Neuroscience, 2003
B.S. in Psychobiology, 2003

EXPERIENCE:
Post Doctoral Fellow (National Multiple Sclerosis Society Fellow): September 2009 - Present
Laboratory of Dr. Thomas Lane, University of California, Irvine
Laboratory of Dr. Craig Walsh, University of California, Irvine
Developed, implemented and published the findings of an independent research project on the antigenicity of
allogeneically transplanted neural progenitor cells and mechanisms involved in transplant rejection in a viral
mouse model of Multiple Sclerosis.
Gained expertise in immunology, stem cell biology, and virology.
Trained and supervised more than 10 students and technicians in assisting with experiments.
Worked collegially in a collaborative group environment and specifically led the laboratory stem cell mouse
transplantation surgeries, a key technique that directly resulted in numerous publications and grant awards.
Graduate Student Research: 2004 - 2009
Laboratory of Dr. Bridget Shafit-Zagardo, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Developed, implemented and published the findings of an independent research project on the receptor tyrosine
kinase Axl, characterization of its association with signaling molecules (notably PI3K and Grb2 within the
central nervous system and specifically in oligodendrocytes), its role in a mouse model of inflammation
targeting myelin, and the role of soluble Axl and its family member Mer, in Multiple Sclerosis.
Gained expertise in neurobiology, neuropathology, molecular biology, and mouse models of inflammation
and/or demyelination.
Undergraduate and Post-Undergraduate Research, Fall 2002 - Summer 2004
Laboratory of Dr. Michael Teitell, University of California, Los Angeles
Aided in an independent research project elucidating a signaling role for the oncogene T cell leukemia-1
(TCL1) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) during T cell development and in mature T cell tumors.
Gained expertise in laboratory research and maintaining mouse colonies (breeding, genotyping, etc).

RECENT PUBLICATIONS (3 of 14*):
Weinger JG, Plaisted WC, Maciejewski SM, Lanier LL, Walsh CM, Lane TE. Activating receptor NKG2D targets RAE-
1-expressing allogeneic neural precursor cells in a viral model of multiple sclerosis. Stem Cells. 2014 In Press.
Greenberg, ML*, Weinger JG*, Matheu MP, Carbajal KS, Parker I, Lane TE, Cahalan MD. Real-time 2photon imaging
shows engrafted neural progenitor cells initiate dynamic intercellular interactions with demyelinated and damaged axons.
PNAS. 2014; 111(22):E2349-E2355. *contributed equally to this manuscript.
Weinger JG, Weist BM, Plaisted WC, Klaus SM, Walsh CM, Lane TE. MHC mismatch results in neural progenitor cell
rejection following spinal cord transplantation in a model of viral-induced demyelination. Stem Cells. 2012 Nov;
30(11):2584-2595.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:
PCR
quantitative RT-PCR Western and
Southern Blot
ELISPOT
ELISA
site-directed mutagenesis
immunoprecipitation
pull-down assay spectrophotometer
analysis cell culture
viral and non-viral cell transfection
MACS/FACS cell separation flow
cytometric analysis
mixed lymphocyte reaction
radioactive and nonradioactive proliferation assay
delayed type hypersensitivity assay
resin and OCT tissue embedding, cutting and slide
preparation
immunohistochemistry
immunofluorescence
immunocytochemistry
Oil Red O+ staining
cytotoxic lactate dehydrogenase assay
experimental autoimmune encephalitis
viral induced demyelination
mouse handling, breeding, weaning, genotyping
cell isolation from mouse brain, spinal cord, blood,
and lymphoid tissue
spinal cord laminectomy and cell transplantation
intravenous, intracranial, intraperitoneal, and
subcutaneous injection
mouse retro-orbital and tail bleeds

COMPUTER PROFICIENCY:
Windows; Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint; Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator;
FACSDiva for BD LSRII; FlowJo; NIS Elements for Eclipse Ti-E; ImageJ; Graphpad Prism; Endnote.

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND AWARDS:
2011-present National Multiple Sclerosis Society Fellowship: National Multiple Sclerosis Society #FG1960-A-1.
2013 Dean's Award for Postdoctoral Research Excellence: UC Irvine School of Biological Sciences.
2013 Best Presentation Award: Institute for Immunology Fair; (Poster, 2nd place), UC Irvine
2012 Travel Award: Multiple Sclerosis: Current Therapeutic Approaches, Mechanistic Insights, and
Biomarkers Symposium, Ann Arbor, MI.
2012 Poster of Merit Award: Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCiS) Annual Meeting,
Vancouver, BC.
2011 Best Presentation Award: Institute for Immunology Fair; (1st place), UC Irvine
2008 Keystone Symposia Scholarship: Multiple Sclerosis, NIH, National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke Grant# 1R13N063455-01.
2008 Human Disease Research Scholarship: Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
2004-2008 Training Grant in Cellular and Molecular Biology and Genetics: Albert Einstein College of
Medicine, #T32GM007491.

RECENT ORAL PRESENTATIONS:
2013 UCI, Institute for Immunology Fair; Irvine, CA
2012 UCI, Autoimmune Diseases of the nervous system/PANDAS; Irvine, CA
2011 UCI, Institute for Immunology Fair; Irvine, CA
2011 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Tykeson Fellows Conference on MS; Dallas, TX
2011 Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Stem Cell Awareness Day; Irvine, CA

SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW:
2014 Multiple Sclerosis International; Ad Hoc, Manuscript Review
2013 Journal of Neuroscience Research; Ad Hoc, Manuscript Review
2013 Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MSRA); Ad Hoc, Grant Application Review

* A full list of publications and references is available upon request