Cristian Cilloniz

 I report directly to the VP/CSO of the Viral Vaccines Group. Currently working on an RNA-based vaccine against influenza and Covid-19. Design, carry out, interpret, and communicate experiments that integrate cutting edge vaccine science with working knowledge of the current influenza vaccine seasonal update and pandemic response systems to deliver a game-changing influenza vaccine with consistently superior efficacy. Vaccine candidate must also be practical for timely development, efficient production, reliable strain change, and global implementation.  Independent assessment of vaccine science, collaboration across a matrix organization to advance the vaccine candidate through research an into early development. Work with external parties in collaborations to advance an influenza vaccine candidate and ensure that the vaccine can be integrated into the global influenza vaccine system. Also work on other viral vaccine candidates. Contribute to and carry out the strategy for the influenza vaccine program and other viral vaccine programs.  Serve as an influenza subject matter expert on the Vaccine Research Influenza project team, providing expert input into experimental design, execution, and interpretation.  Interact extensively with other Research functions and non-Research functions in advancing in advancing the vaccine through research and into early development.  Provide expert input into communication about the influenza vaccine program in internal Pfizer documents and external patent applications, regulatory submissions, scientific papers, and other communications.  Collaborate with external alliance partners for influenza vaccines, including collaborating companies, government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Contribute broadly to the work of the Viral Vaccines group, including the supervision of junior colleagues, research into multiple viral vaccine candidates, management of the laboratories, and fulfillment of compliance obligations.

 Growing, titration and production of Zika and Dengue virus stocks. Development of human cell-based assay to determine Zika cell preference and replication status under GLP conditions.  Development of hemagglutination inhibition assay (HIA) using guinea pig red blood cells to determine specific seroconversion of antibody titers in sera samples from humans infected with influenza virus under GLP conditions.  Dengue assay qualification, validation and transfer under GLP conditions.  Direct the scientific team, providing scientific and managerial supervision, in addition to the design, implementation and oversight of methods required to support various stages of viral vaccine development.  Oversee clinical testing activities, scheduling and general management of personnel, review of data generated, understanding of and compliance to project timelines, monitoring method stability/performance over time.  Develop, qualify, validate and troubleshoot assays, optimization of processes, evaluation of new technologies to improve sample throughput, precision, quality, and/or accuracy that provide/maintain a competitive advantage and support the various stages of vaccine development. Managed and supervised a team of 40 direct reports.  Supervise, train, and motivate junior scientists, lab analysts to perform assigned tasks.

 Developed cell-based assay and RT-qPCR assay to determine activity of new small molecules against influenza.  Developed high throughput system to screen libraries to discover new small molecules using a fluorescent influenza reporter to determine the status of virus replication.  Developed cell-based assay to determine virus replication of influenza and RSV. Discovered new host targets by using RNA-seq and microarrays as well as micro RNAs and long non- coding RNAs analysis. Verified these observations by RNAi method.  Served as project leader in a collaboration between Roche and Mount Sinai to discover broad spectrum antivirals against influenza and other respiratory viruses as well as to identify and characterize host factors for drug targeting.  Led multidisciplinary cross-functional pharma teams that consistently accomplished goals at the specified timelines.  Identified compounds that inhibited virus replication. Hit validation and hit characterization are in progress.  Discovered candidate host factors as novel targets against influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in a human lung cell line by integrating two network analysis methods to prioritize host restriction factors for influenza infection by integration of public protein-protein interactor data, siRNA assay data, public microarray expression data and internal RNa-seq data.  Developed and optimized an RT-qPCR assay in a human lung cell line for the screening of compounds that inhibit influenza A and B virus replication.  Analyzed and interpreted RNA-seq and micro array data.  Developed an assay using human primary bronchial epithelial cells to study innate immunity during inhibition of viral replication and the side effects of tested compounds in the system.  Set up protocols for the HTS/HCS of compounds that inhibit influenza virus replication.

• Discovered that metalloproteinases and inflammation induction are associated in lethal Ebola infection in mice. • Discovered that dysregulation of inflammatory response and lipoxing signaling allowed lethal dissemination of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in mice. • Discovered that early dysregulation of the inflammatory response is lethal in macaques infected with resurrected influenza 1918 virus. • Elucidated the survival mechanism of MX-1 mice infected with the resurrected 1918 influenza virus. • Discovered that Stat1 protects the Central Nervous System following HSV-1 corneal infection in mice. Heavily involved in Systems biology analysis of host immune response to pathogenic human viral infections using animal models.  Ebola project: Study aimed at understanding Ebola virus pathogenesis using a mouse model of pathogenesis using wild type and mutant viruses generated by reverse genetics and to elucidate molecular signatures associated with lethality and recovery.  Influenza studies: Worked in several concurrent Influenza studies using mice and non-human primates as models of infection with the aim to determine the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity of 1918 pandemic virus and several H5N1 viruses.  Marburg study: Study was aimed at gaining insights into the pathogenesis of this virus by comparing the host response of non-human primates infected with highly and minimally pathogenic Marburg virus strains.  Lassa study: Goal of study was to investigate host response to Lassa virus infection using non-human primates.  Herpes study: HSV-1 vhs protein is a multifunctional modulator that counteracts the innate response and viruses lacking vhs are attenuated and effective live vaccines in animal models. A systems biology approach was performed on control, interferon αβγ-/- receptor and Stat1-/- mice strains infected with wild type or vhs null viruses.

 Discovered and reported for the first-time serological evidence of Hantavirus in human and animals in the Amazon jungle region of Iquitos, Peru.  Developed ELISA to determine Hantavirus antibodies in human and animal sera samples.  Develop immunofluorescence assay to determine Hantavirus and Dengue specific antibodies in human and animal samples.  Extensive experience using biosafety space suits in the field and laboratory for levels BSL-3 and BSL-4.  Characterized dengue infection in healthy and sick people in the Amazon basin region of Iquitos, Peru.  Determined prevalence of dengue infection and dengue virus strain by collecting blood samples and performing ELISA, PCR.  Experience inoculating human and animal samples in two-day old mice brain to isolate virus.  Experience inoculating homogenized brains from sick baby mice in Vero and BHK cells for determination of CPE.  Performed plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) to determine the titer of Dengue virus.  Investigated presence of Hantaviruses in the Amazon basin region of Iquitos, Peru.  Experience performing ELISA and statistical analysis in order to assess its correlation with different epidemiological variables including sex, age, altitude and location of school/work.