Download Townson, Jason L BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Jason L Townson

Townson, Jason L
Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle):
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
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NAME
POSITION TITLE
Jason L Townson
Postdoctoral Fellow
P30 Role: Associate Member Cancer
Therapeutics: Technology, Discovery &
Targeted Delivery
eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login)
jtownson
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, include postdoctoral training and
residency training if applicable.)
DEGREE
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
MM/YY
FIELD OF STUDY
(if applicable)
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
BScH
PhD
05/01
11/09
Postdoc
12/13
Life Sciences
Medical Biophysics
Nanomedicine and
Cancer Biology
A. Personal Statement
The overall goal of my research is to better understand the interface between engineered materials and
biological systems, with a primary focus on development of nanoparticles for imaging and therapeutic use in
cancer. My graduate research in a cancer metastasis laboratory has provided me with significant experience
with cancer cell culture (2D and 3D), animal models of metastatic cancer (xenografts and syngenic models) as
well as multiple imaging modalities including MRI, in vivo video microscopy and ultrasound. All models and
techniques were learned in the context of evaluating treatment efficacy of novel therapies for metastatic
disease, with a primary focus on liver metastasis. As a postdoctoral fellow I applied my knowledge and
experience with complex biological systems, in conjunction with my more recent research training in
nanomaterials synthesis and characterization, in order to conduct experiments to quantify biodistribution,
toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles in vivo as well as develop novel biomaterials. My research
continues to focus on better understanding the complex interactions between nanoparticles and diverse cell
populations in vivo in order to better optimize these particles as in vivo vectors for imaging and therapeutic
cargo.
B. Positions and Honors
Positions and Employment
2002-2009 Graduate Student, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario,
London, Ontario, Canada
2010-2013 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of New Mexico, Center for Micro-engineered Materials,
Albuquerque, NM, USA
2014Research Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico, Department of Internal Medicine,
Division of Molecular Medicine
Honors
2003-2005
2004-2005
2005-2008
2008
2008
2009
Breast Cancer Research Society of Canada Studentship
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
Canadian Institute of Health Research - Doctoral Research Award
Top poster - London Regional Cancer Program - Oncology Research and Education Day
Travel Award - Graduate Program in Molecular Imaging Research Award
2009 World Molecular Imaging Congress - Student Travel Award
PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 06/09)
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Townson, Jason L
Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle):
2010-2012 Fellowship - The New Mexico Cancer Nanoscience and Microsystems Training Center (CNTC)
2011
Selected as participant at 2011 National Cancer Institute Cancer Research Imaging Camp
2012-2013 Junior Investigator Award - Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation
Professional Memberships:
2011-Present American Association of Cancer Research, Associate member
2013-Present Materials Research Society
C. Selected Publications:
1. Townson JL, Lin YS, Agola JO, Carnes EC, Leong HS, Lewis JD, Haynes C and Brinker CJ. Re- examining
the Size/Charge Paradigm: Differing In Vivo Characteristics of Size and Charge-Matched Mesoporous
Silica Nanoparticles. J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Oct;135:16030-3. PMCID:PMC3946529
2. Kaehr B, Townson JL, Kalinich RM, Awad Y, Swartzentruber BS, Dunphy DR and Brinker CJ. Cellular
complexity captured in durable silica biocomposites. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012 Oct 23;109:17336-41.
PMCID: PMC3491527
3. Ashley CE, Carnes EC, Epler KE, Padilla DP, Phillips GK, Castillo RE, Wilkinson DC, Wilkinson BS, Burgard
CA, Kalinich RM, Townson JL, Chackerian B, Willman CL, Peabody DS, Wharton W and Brinker CJ.
Delivery of small interfering RNA by peptide-targeted mesoporous silica nanoparticle-supported lipid
bilayers. ACS Nano. 2012 Mar 27;6(3):2174-88. PMCID:PMC3332089
4. Townson, JL, Ramadan SS, Simedrea C, Rutt BK, MacDonald IC, Foster PJ, Chambers AF (2009). ThreeDimensional imaging and quantification of both solitary cells and metastases in whole mouse liver by
magnetic resonance imaging. Cancer Research 69:8326-8331.
5. Townson JL, MacDonald IC, Liby KT, MacKenzie L, Dales DW, Hedley BD, Foster PJ, Sporn MB,
Chambers AF (2011). The synthetic triterpenoid CDDO-Imidazolide suppresses experimental liver
metastasis. Clin Exp Metastasis. 2011 Mar;28:309-17
6. Epler K, Padilla D, Phillips G, Crowder P, Castillo R, Wilkinson D, Wilkinson B, Burgard C, Kalinich R,
Townson J, Chackerian B, Willman C, Peabody D, Wharton W, Brinker CJ, Ashley C and Carnes E.
Targeted Delivery of Protein Toxins: Delivery of Ricin Toxin A-Chain by Peptide-Targeted Mesoporous
Silica nanoparticle-Supported Lipid Bilayers. Adv Healthcare Mater. 2012 May; 1:348-53.
7. Brackstone M, Townson JL and Chambers AF (2007). Tumour dormancy in breast cancer: an update.
Breast Cancer Research 9:208. PMCID: PMC1929094
8. Townson JL and Chambers AF (2006). Dormancy of solitary metastatic cells. Cell Cycle 5: 1744-1750
9. Townson JL, Naumov GN and Chambers AF (2003). The role of apoptosis in tumor progression and
metastasis. Curr Mol Med 3:631-42
10.Naumov GN, Townson JL, MacDonald IC, Wilson SM, Bramwell VH, Groom AC and Chambers AF (2003).
Ineffectiveness of doxorubicin treatment on solitary dormant mammary carcinoma cells or late-developing
metastases. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2003 Dec;82(3):199-206.
D. Research Support
ONGOING
1 U01 CA151792-04 Willman, Brinker, PIs
NIH-NCI
PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 06/09)
10/1/2010 – 8/31/2015
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Townson, Jason L
Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle):
Peptide-directed Protocells and Virus-Like Particles – new nanoparticle platforms for targeted delivery of
multicomponent drugs
The goal of the project is to develop nanoparticle platforms to target delivery of multiple different cargos to
cancer cells.
Role: Key personnel
FA 9550-14-1-0066 Brinker, PI
2/1/2014 – 1/31/2017
Air Force Office of Scientific Research, AFOSR
Biocompatible and Biomimetic Self-Assembly of Functional Nanostructures
The major goal of this project is the discovery and integration of new classes of hybrid materials and devices
displaying a symbiotic relationship between the biotic and abiotic components:
Role: Key Collaborator
LLS 7010-14 SCOR Carroll, NYU,PI; Willman, UNM, project PI
10/1/13 – 9/30/18
Lymphoma Leukemia Society
Developing Novel Therapies for Pediatric and Young Adult ALL
Silica nanoparticles have recently received FDA approval for targeted molecular imaging in cancer; these
studies will lay the foundation for FDA-reviewed IND-directed toxicology studies.
Role: Key personnel
UNM-Alpine Biosciences Sponsored Research Agreement
Brinker, PI
Alpine Biosciences
Development of protocells as nucleic acid delivery vehicle for a wide range of diseases
Role: Co-Investigator
COMPLETED
Young Investigator Award
Townson, PI
6/20/12-6/19/13
Gabriel’s Angels Foundation
In Vivo Models for Design and Optimization of Targeted Nanocarriers (Protocells) for Leukemia Therapy
The goal of this research is to assist in development of a nanoparticle optimized to reduce treatment toxicity
while eliminating otherwise drug resistant leukemia cell populations.
PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 06/09)
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