EMANUELA IONELA SEGA
constane@purdue.edu
(765) 496-5103
212 Halsey Drive, Apt. 7
West Lafayette, IN 47906
OBJECTIVE
To obtain postdoctoral research experience in the area of clinical and
translational cancer research. More specifically, to become proficient in
developing novel clinically relevant therapies for cancer.
EDUCATION
• PhD, Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Purdue University December 2006
Dissertation: “Folate receptor-targeted immunotherapy of cancer: Identification of the mechanism of action and augmentation of the therapeutic efficacy through the addition of standard and novel therapies”
Advisor: Philip S. Low, Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
• BS, Physics, Department of Physics, University of Bucharest, Romania June 1997
Major: Biophysics
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Purdue University, Graduate Research Assistant August 2000-Present
• Developed and characterized the folate receptor targeted immunotherapy.
• Evaluated the dose-dependent anti-tumor effect of folate receptor targeted immunotherapy
• Identified the immune cell populations (e.g. macrophages, NK cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells) responsible for the elimination of folate receptor positive tumors
• Evaluated in vitro the tumor cell-killing effect of these immune cell populations
• Assessed the tumor infiltrating lymphocytes by immunohistochemical methods
• Designed novel strategies that synergize with folate receptor targeted immunotherapy in eradication of large aggressive tumors.
• Designed and synthesized folate-linked toll-like receptor ligands
• Developed a novel therapy based on folate-linked toll-like receptor ligands that amplifies the therapeutic efficacy of the immunotherapy
• Developed a successful combination therapy involving low-dose radiation and
folate receptor targeted immunotherapy that leads to regression and subsequent
elimination of large aggressive tumors
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
N. Simionescu Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology, Romania, Research
assistant, 1997-1999
• Studied the immunoglobulin G trafficking in human placental endothelial
cells. In particular, investigated the role of neonatal Fc receptors, expressed
on human placental endothelial cells in internalization and transcytosis of
immunoglobulin G in order to achieve fetal humoral immunity.
PATENT
• “Targeted conjugates and radiation” Emanuela I. Sega and Philip S. Low,
Patent Pending
LABORATORY SKILLS
• Development of clinical animal models
• Mammalian Cell culture (8 years experience)
• Macrophage, NK cell, and T-cell isolation and culture
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
• Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay
• Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) assay
• Phagocytosis assay
• In vitro drug toxicity and binding assays
• Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)
• Microscopy: confocal, fluorescence, electron and light
• Immunohistochemistry on frozen sections
• UV/VIS Spectrometry
• Liposome encapsulated drug preparation
• Synthesis, purification and characterization of drug conjugates
• Animal Handling, Injections, Restraint, Anesthesia, Euthanasia
• Protein immunization
• Polyclonal antibody production
• Administration of drugs to animals: IP, Sub-c, and paraorbitally
• Collection of blood from animals: Para-orbital vein bleeds, cardiac puncture
• Tumor digestion and generation of 1st passage cells from primary tumor tissue
• Trained in radiological control
• Computer Skills: Sigma Plot, GraphPad Prism, MS Office
PAPERS
• Lu, Y., Yang, J., Sega, E., “Issues Related to Targeted Delivery of
Peptides and Proteins”, AAPS Journal (in press)
• Lu, Y*., Sega, E*., Low, P.S., “Folate receptor-targeted immunotherapy: induction of humoral and cellular immunity against hapten-decorated cancer cells”, International Journal of Cancer, 2005 Sep 20; 116(5):710-9
*Both authors contributed equally
• Lu, Y., Sega, E., Leamon, C.P., Low, P.S., “Folate receptor-targeted
immunotherapy of cancer: mechanism and therapeutic potential”, Advanced Drug
Delivery Reviews, 2004 Apr 29; 56(8): 1161-76
• Sega, E., Ringor, M., Hilgenbrink , A., Low, P.S., “Low-dose irradiation
potentiates folate-targeted immunotherapy by sensitizing tumor cells” (In
preparation)
• Sega, E., Celis, E., Low, P.S., “CpG-Folate synergizes with folate
receptor-targeted immunotherapy in eradication of large aggressive tumors” (In
preparation)
• Sega, E., Wang, R., Low, P.S., “Immune events associated with folate
receptor-targeted immunotherapy” (In preparation)
PRESENTATIONS
• Sega, E., Ringor, M., Celis, E., Low, P.S., “Low dose irradiation or
folate-CpG enhances the efficacy of folate-hapten targeted immunotherapy”,
Abstract # 5563, 97th American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting,
Washington DC, April 2006 (Poster presentation)
• Sega, E., Ringor, M., Low, P.S., “Low-dose irradiation potentiates
folate-targeted immunotherapy by sensitizing tumor cells”, Abstract # 209, 34th
Annual Autumn Immunology Conference, Chicago, Illinois, November 2005 (Poster
presentation)
• “Folate-targeted immunotherapy: identification of the mechanism of action
and augmentation of therapeutic efficacy”, Endocyte Inc., West Lafayette,
Indiana, August 2005 (Invited speaker)
• “Folate receptor mediated diagnosis and therapy of cancer and inflammatory
diseases”, Purdue University, Biochemistry seminar, February 2005 (Invited
speaker)
• Sega, E., Lu, Y., Wang, R., Low, P.S., “Folate receptor-targeted
immunotherapy: Induction of humoral and cellular immunity against hapten-decorated
cancer cells - Part 2”, Abstract # 2179, 33rd Annual Autumn Immunology
Conference, Chicago, Illinois, November 2004 (Invited speaker)
• Sega, E., Lu, Y., Wang, R., Low, P.S., “Folate receptor-targeted
immunotherapy: Induction of humoral and cellular immunity against hapten-decorated
cancer cells”, Abstract # 2179, 95th American Association for Cancer Research
Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, March 2004 (Poster presentation)
• “Optimization of the folate receptor-targeted immunotherapy” Endocyte Inc.,
West Lafayette, Indiana, February 2004 (Invited speaker)
• “PYPAF protein: an intracellular receptor for dsRNA”, Original Proposal,
Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, October 2003
• Sega E, Wang R, Lu Y, Low PS, “The mechanism and immune events associated
with folate-targeted immunotherapy”, Purdue University Cancer Center Annual
Scientific Retreat, September 2003 (Poster presentation)
• “Folate receptor mediated therapy of cancer”, N. Simionescu Institute of
Cellular Biology and Pathology, Romania, May 2002 (Invited speaker)
AWARDS:
• Purdue Research Foundation Fellowship 2003-2005
• Merit Scholarship 1992-1997
REFERENCES
Philip S. Low, Ph.D.
Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Prof. of Chem.
Purdue University
Department of Chemistry
1393 Brown Building
West Lafayette, IN 47907
(765) 494-5273
plow@purdue.edu
Christopher P. Leamon, Ph.D.
Vice President, Reaserch
Endocyte, Inc.
3000 Kent Ave.
West Lafayette, IN 47906
765-463-7175
chrisleamon@endocyte.com
Marietta L. Harrison, Ph.D.
Interim director of the Oncological Science Center
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Purdue University
MCMP Department
Hansen Life Sciences Research Building
201 S. University Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2064
(765) 494-1448
harrison@pharmacy.purdue.edu