Alexander Bank, PhD
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Program:
Pharmacology
Graduated:
5/2008
Mentor:
Lin Zhang
Thesis:
The Role of SMAC in NSAID-Induced Apoptosis
Previous Institutions Attended:
State University of New York at Binghamton; Biochemistry, B.S.
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Development of various RNA interference products and reagents, including an siRNA array that targets different transcription factors.
Fellowships, Awards, Promotions:
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences Predoctoral Training Grant in Pharmacological Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, 2006
- Graduate Student Fellowship, Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, 2005
- Graduate Student Fellowship, Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, 2004
Recent Publications:
- Bank A, Yu J, Zhang L. NSAIDs downregulate Bcl-XL and dissociate BAX and Bcl-XL to induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Nutr Cancer. 60 Suppl 1:98-103, 2008
- Bank A, Wang P, Du C, Yu J, Zhang L. SMAC mimetics sensitize nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced apoptosis by promoting caspase-3–mediated cytochrome c release. Cancer Res. 68(1):276-84, 2008
- Ming L, Wang P, Bank A, Yu J, Zhang L. PUMA Dissociates Bax and Bcl-X(L) to induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells. J Biol Chem. 281(23):16034-42, 2006
Publications while a graduate student at Pitt:
- Bank A, Yu J, Zhang L. NSAIDs downregulate Bcl-XL and dissociate BAX and Bcl-XL to induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Nutr Cancer. 60 Suppl 1:98-103, 2008
- Bank A, Wang P, Du C, Yu J, Zhang L. SMAC mimetics sensitize nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced apoptosis by promoting caspase-3–mediated cytochrome c release. Cancer Res. 68(1):276-84, 2008
- Ming L, Wang P, Bank A, Yu J, Zhang L. PUMA Dissociates Bax and Bcl-X(L) to induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells. J Biol Chem. 281(23):16034-42, 2006
What did you enjoy most about your research experiences and graduate studies here at Pitt?
Satisfying my curiousity for scientific discovery in the field of cancer. In what ways did your training at Pitt prepare you for your current position?
My research experience and skill set from University of Pittsburgh prepared me well for various industry-centered experimental tasks and conceptual thinking at SABiosciences Corporation. I acquired years of tissue culture experience that involved treatment with small molecules and transfection with various plasmid-based and siRNA vectors, allowing for a quick and easy adjustment to working with the new cell lines. Despite having limited experience with PCR-based techniques, I quickly learned how to perform high quality RT-PCR and qPCR experiments using various high-end instruments. My extensive experience with performing Western blotting has allowed me to quickly transition to performing ELISA experiments, having found the various similarities between the two techniques.
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