ANUJA R. MODI

Scientist II, Biology

Led assay development and screening workflow design for selective macrocycle discovery against conserved cell-cycle targets in oncology collaborations.

• Built a suite of biochemical assays central to preclinical discovery efforts for a key oncology partnership.
• Established 384-well automated screening workflows and partnered with informatics to cut data-processing time by 75%.
• Developed functional assays to test mechanism-of-action hypotheses during hit-to-lead studies.
• Created a novel target-occupancy method that extended from preclinical discovery into fresh frozen tumor-sample applications.
• Drove adoption of new liquid-handling platforms through procurement, training, and technical enablement.

Scientist, Discovery Pharmacology

Supported multiple neurodegeneration discovery programs with assay design, translational experimentation, automation, and CRO execution.

• Designed and executed HTS and hit-to-lead assays spanning target engagement, pathway activation, and mammalian primary-cell studies.
• Advanced differentiated modalities including transport-vehicle conjugates for antibody and enzyme platforms toward in vivo candidacy.
• Led experiments on ex vivo stability of oligonucleotide-antibody conjugates to inform platform architecture choices.
• Improved data-analysis workflows with informatics collaborators and contributed to ELN functionality and compliance upgrades.
• Managed CRO assay transfers, vendor coordination, and mentorship of junior scientists.

Research Scientist / Senior Research Associate

Built and advanced a discovery program focused on inhibitors of tau-HSPG binding, from screening concept through lead optimization.

• Established a Tau Consortium-funded small-molecule screening project in collaboration with the institutional HTS core.
• Led hit-to-lead optimization and coordinated SAR work with medicinal chemistry collaborators.
• Standardized assays, reagent production methods, and project documentation across multiple phases of the program.
• Expanded lab infrastructure toward high-throughput capability through equipment acquisition, scheduling systems, and technical training.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Designed discovery assays and screening strategies for oncology kinase targets while contributing to broader scientific leadership and mentorship.

• Designed and executed HTS to identify small-molecule inhibitors of SRMS kinase and advanced validated hits into cellular follow-up.
• Developed ligand-binding and covalent-kinetics assay methods for kinase inhibitor discovery.
• Served as co-chair of the postdoctoral career development committee, organizing professional development programs for researchers.