CATHERINE N.

KIBIRIGE, PHD
kibirigec@gmail.com 443-629-1040
CLINICAL RESEARCH PROFILE

Clinical HIV Research Flow Cytometry PCR Quantification and Assay Development Scientific Writing Biomedical Scientist with 10+ years of experience in HIV Clinical Research including CLIA | CAP accredited laboratories. Solid background in implementing research projects including biomedical assay development. Broad industrial and academic experience. CORE COMPETENCIES Clinical Research Laboratory Supervision Real-Time PCR Immuno-Assay Design Molecular Assay Design | Optimization Scientific Writing Flow Cytometry Medical Diagnostics Academic Tutoring Capacity Building International Development

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
HENRY M. JACKSON FOUNDATION Rockville, MD A Global Organization dedicated to Advancing Military Medical Research. Staff Scientist / Post-Doctoral Fellow HIV Molecular Diagnostics - US Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) Designed and developed ultra-sensitive Real Time Quantitative PCR assays for detection of HIV-1 Nucleic Acid in clinical samples, including total HIV-1 DNA, Integrated HIV-1 DNA and 2-LTR Episomal HIV-1 DNA. Created a diverse database of major HIV-1 subtype sequences. Designed Taqman oligo-nucleotides for DNA amplification. Analyzed areas of sequence homology. 2010 - 2012

Screened the oligonucleotides then optimized assays based on the best candidates. Assisted in the development of similar assays for HIV-2. Poster presented. Manuscript under preparation. Developed clinical protocols for assay utilization in collaboration with other laboratory personnel. Implemented a Laboratory Developed Assay verification study for the eventual validation of the assays for HIV-1 RNA / DNA quantification. Manuscript under preparation.

JOHNS HOPKINS BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Baltimore, MD

2001 2010

A Highly-Ranked Academic Institution Pioneering Public Health Research and Policy Implementation Globally Graduate Student Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (2001-2009); Visiting Research Scientist / Scholar (2009 2010) - Clinical Research Study Design and Implementation Investigated the role of HIV-1 co-receptor switching in AIDS-related T-cell homeostasis failure. Ph.D Thesis Project Designed / Implemented a clinically based research study to investigate bystander T-cell death. Recruited subjects, obtained informed consent, collected data, analyzed data. Conducted Primary T-Cell Culture. Developed Flow Cytometry based Immuno-Assays. Scientific Presentation of findings in seminars / departmental meetings. Scientific / Medical Writing including Medical Terminology. Poster Presentation. Thesis and Book publication of research findings. Manuscript under preparation for resubmission as a medical hypothesis. Academic Tutor / Teacher Assistant for Virology, Topics in Immunology, Advanced Topics in AIDS Research as well as Introduction to Biomedical Sciences courses.

RAKAI HEALTH SCIENCES PROGRAM UGANDA VIRUS RESEARCH INSTITUTE Entebbe, Uganda A World-Renown Field-Based Clinical Study on the Epidemiology of HIV-1 and Related Diseases. Research Fellow / Laboratory Supervisor

1999 - 2003

International Development and Capacity building of a field-based laboratory in preparation for College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation Developed / Implemented Laboratory Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs). Maintained Equipment. Supervised Laboratory. Skills utilized: Clinical Specimen Processing, Serology, PBMC Isolation, ELISA, Western Blotting, Malaria and Vaginal Swab Slide Staining, Microscopy, Bacterial Cell Culture, Light Microscopy, Bacterial Vaginosis Slide Scoring, Asceptic Technique Biosafety Level 2 (BSL 2), Cellular Cryo-preservation, International Specimen Shipment, Laboratory Management, Scientific Presentation Mar Aug. 1998

MUREX Biotech Limited (An Abbott Company) Dartford, Kent, England Laboratory Assistant 6 month internship as part of a Masters in Biochemistry Purified / Analyzed Hepatitis B core recombinant protein conjugates. Developed syphilis and HTLV activity assays for monitoring recombinant protein production. Skills Utilized: ELISA, Bacterial Cell Culture, HPLC, protein quantification, Scientific Writing.

Rhone-Poulenc Agriculture Limited Ongar, Essex, England Laboratory Assistant 6 month internship as part of a Masters in Biochemistry

Apr Sept. 1997

Skills Utilized: Plant Cell / Protoplast Culture, Herbicide Uptake Experimental Planning & Implementation, Light Absorbance Spectrophotometry, Scientific Writing.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Certificate of Class Completion Real Time and Quantitative PCR, the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences, Inc (FAES), National Institutes of Health (NIH) - 2011 Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Certificate in Vaccine Science & Policy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 2009 & 2003 Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP) Fellowships 2001 & 2002 Master of Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom 1999 Certificate of Supervisory Management - National Examining Board of Supervisory Management (NEBSM) , England, United Kingdom - 1995

PUBLICATIONS
Kibirige C., Margolick J. Non-infectious CXCR4-tropic HIV induces T-cell death and possibly AIDS. LAP Lambert Academic Publishers. 2010. ISBN: 978-3-8383-7368-3 Kibirige C. et al. Effect of Inactivated CCR5- and CXCR4-tropic HIV Virions on Survival of Unstimulated Primary Human T-Cells. Poster LB-24, 47th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Philadelphia, PA Oct 29- Nov 1 2009. Jagodzinksi L., Liu Y., Weston H., Manak M., Peel S., Kibirige C. et al. Development of a Real-Time PCR Assay for Quantification of HIV-2 RNA. Poster M55, 28th Annual Clinical Virology Symposium, Daytona Beach, FL April 22 25 2012. TECHNICAL SKILLS ELISA. Immuno-Assays. Medical Diagnostics. Western Blotting. PBMC Isolation. Cryopreservation. Hemocytometer cell counting. Flow Cytometry. FLowJo. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis. Protocol Design. Standard Operational Procedures. CLIA. CAP. Real Time PCR. DNA Quantification. Laboratory Supervision. Clinical Research. Medical Statistics. Data Management. Serology. Microsoft Excel. PRISM. STATA. Primary Mammalian Cell Culture. Privacy Act, HIPAA Clinical Training. Scientific Presentation including adapting advanced concepts for a more general audience. Microsoft PowerPoint. Academic Tutoring. International Development. Capacity Building. Epidemiology. Scientific Writing. HIV Research. Laboratory Safety. Mass Spectrophotometry.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/cnkibirige