Martin Felices, PhD

mf97ad8a@westpost.net
Education:
Graduate Institution
UMASS Medical School, Department of Pathology, Worcester, MA. PhD program in Bio
medical Sciences (Immunology track). (2002-2008)
Undergraduate Institution
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
Bachelors in Biotechnology (1994-1998)
Experience:
Work
* Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research-NIBR (Cambridge, MA). Postdoctora
l Fellow in the Developmental and Molecular Pathways Platform (2008-present). I
ndependently researched projects aimed at dissecting the signaling environment m
ediating epithelial-stromal cell interactions, which contributes to pathogenic t
issue remodeling in chronic injury and tumorogenesis. Involved functional valida
tion of critical pathway modulators in disease states such as fibrosis or cancer
generation, using physiologically-relevant cell culture and mouse genetic model
s
* UMASS GSBS Immunology and Virology Program (Worcester, MA). PhD candidate Lesl
ie Berg's lab (2002-2008). Research on the role of Tec family kinases in innate
(NKT, ** T, and NK cells) and adaptive immune signaling. This graduate researc
h attempted to dissect the role of members of this family of Tec kinases in seve
ral immune subsets both in mouse models and primary cell cultures. This was ach
ieved by monitoring developmental and functional differences in the immune subse
ts of animals deficient in these kinases
* Anderson Consulting ((now Accenture) Buenos Aires, Argentina offices). Analyst
(1999-2001). Responsibilities included administrative software implementations,
project proposals, and business plan assessments
* Scriptgen (Waltham, MA). Research Assistant (1999). Focus on animal toxicology
and pharmacokinetic studies utilizing novel compounds for treatment of Aspergil
lus fumigatus and Candida albicans (amongst other disease models). Research con
sisted mostly on administering novel compounds in different ways to mice sufferi
ng of the above mentioned diseases as well and monitoring their effects through
clinical observations and histology
* Immulogic (Waltham, MA). Research Technician (1998-1999). Research involved te
sting a novel antibody specific for Nicotine designed to treat Nicotine addictio
n by blocking passage into the brain. Mostly this research was carried out in vi
tro through utilization of several different forms of antibody binding assays.
In vivo pharmacokinetic studies were also carried out to establish the efficienc
y of the antibody in the mouse
Undergraduate Research
WPI undergraduate thesis at UMASS medical school, department of Cellular Biology
(Worcester, MA). Research focused on investigating the role of Estrogen and Tam
oxifen on osteoblast and osteoclast survival
Publications:
* Felices M*, Yin C*, Kosaka Y, Kang J, Berg LJ. Tec Kinase Itk in ** T Cells i
s Pivotal for Controlling IgE Production In Vivo. PNAS. 2009 May;106(20):8308-13
* Prince AL, Yin CC, Enos ME, Felices M, Berg LJ. The Tec kinases Itk and Rlk r
egulate conventional versus innate T-cell development. Immunol Rev. 2009 Mar;228
(1):115-31.
* Felices M, Berg LJ. The Tec Kinases Itk and Rlk Regulate NKT Cell Maturation,
Cytokine Production, and Survival. J. Immunol. 2008 Mar;180(5):3007-18.
* Lucas J*, Felices M*, Evans JW, Berg LJ. Subtle Defects in Pre-TCR Signaling i
n the Absence of the Tec Kinase Itk. J. Immunol. 2007 Dec;179:7561-7567 (* = co-
first author)
* Felices M, Falk M, Kosaka Y, Berg LJ. Tec kinases in T cell and mast cell sign
aling. Adv Immunol. 2007;93:145-84
* Kosaka Y, Felices M, Berg LJ. Itk and Th2 responses: action but no reaction. T
rends Immunol. 2006 Oct;27(10):453-60
* Atherly LO*, Lucas JA*, Felices M, Yin CC, Reiner SL, Berg LJ. The Tec family
tyrosine kinases Itk and Rlk regulate the development of conventional CD8+ T cel
ls. Immunity. 2006 Jul;25(1):79-91
* Chan FK, Shisler J, Bixby JG, Felices M, Zheng L, Appel M, Orenstein J, Moss B
, Lenardo MJ. A role for tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 and receptor-interacti
ng protein in programmed necrosis and antiviral responses. J Biol Chem. 2003 Dec
19;278(51):51613-21
Awards:
Charles Janeway Memorial Award at the 2005 New England Immunology Conference
1997 Presidential IQP Award (given for the best project joining technology and s
ociety at Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
Invited Seminars:
Tec family kinases and NKT cells: a little signaling in an otherwise innate life
style. 2007 UMASS Immunology and Virology Retreat at Jiminy Peak, MA
Selected Abstracts:
* Felices M, Atherly LO, Lucas J, Reiner SL, Berg LJ. (2005) Regulation of CD8 T
Cell Development by Tec Kinases Itk and Rlk. 30th Annual New England Immunology
Conference
* Felices M, Atherly LO, Berg LJ. (2005) The Function of Tec Family Kinases in N
K Cells. 92nd Annual AAI Conference
* Felices M, Berg LJ. (2007) Itk and Rlk Regulate NKT Cell Maturation, Cytokine
Production and Survival. Faseb Summer Conference: Signal Transduction in the Imm
une System
Teaching Experience:
(2007) Responsible for teaching a section in the Tufts Cummings School of Veteri
nary Medicine Immunology class
(2006-2007) Participated in teaching the Molecular and Cellular Immunology Class
at UMASS Medical School as well as the summer Immunology course
(2005-2006) Mentored 3 rotating students through their rotations

Languages:
English (Fluent), Spanish (Fluent), Portuguese (Fluent), Italian (Basic), German
(Basic)

Lab Skills:
* Cell Biology: flow cytometry (trained on LSRII and FACS Calibur (BD)), ICS, ca
lcium flux, magnetic cell separation, in vivo and in vitro activation and prolif
eration assays, pharmacokinetic assays, tissue culture, and fluorescent microsco
py
* Molecular Biology: DNA and mRNA isolation, Northern blotting, gene microarray,
genomic PCR, and Real time PCR
* Protein Chemistry: ELISA, RIA, Western blotting, cytometric bead arrays (CBA (
BD)), and bacterial two-hybrid assays
* Animal Work: immunizations (IP, IV, IM, IG, IN, and SubQ), adoptive transfers,
tail bleeds, heart punctures, ear tagging, breeding and genotyping colonies, dr
ug toxicity animal clinical assessments, and lymphocyte preparation (thymocytes,
splenocytes, leukocytes, PECs, blood, iIELs). Experience with both mice and rat
s