John Shields Morris

118 Trimble Ave

Cary, NC 27511
919-481-0842
jm4df7a8@westpost.net
Objective
Experienced masters-level research scientist seeking a bench scientist position
utilizing my extensive molecular biology, virology and assay development skills

Summary of Qualifications
* Masters level Research Scientist with 28 years of experience at the bench.
* Extensive molecular biology experience including:
o DNA cloning and mutagenesis
o PCR and RT-PCR
o RNA in vitro transcription and purification
o Northern analysis
o SDS-PAGE
o Western blot analysis
o Protein production and purification
o Eukaryotic and prokaryotic electroporation techniques
* Expertise in assay development, optimization and trouble shooting
* Tissue culture experience including Vero, BHK, MRC5, and HEp-2 cells
* Proficiency in virus propagation and plaque assays
* Adept at working independently as well as in multi-disciplinary, inter-departm
ental teams
* Experience working in biosafety level 3 (BL-3) research laboratories
* Excellent communication skills
Education
Master of Science, Microbiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 1
990
Bachelor of Science, Animal Science , North Carolina State University, Raleigh,
NC, 1981
Professional Experience
AlphaVax Human Vaccines Inc., RTP, NC
AlphaVax is a privately held company which utilizes a non-replicating alphavirus
replicon vector as a platform for producing virus-like replicon particle (VRP)
vaccines against a broad range of targets.
Research Scientist 2007-Present
* Developed and Qualified a CMV neutralization assay to measure neutralizing ant
ibody responses in CMV VRP vaccine recipients
* Developed a Respiratory Syncytial Virus VRP vaccine and a RSV neutralization a
ssay to measure antibody responses in vaccine recipients
* Acquired reagents and designed protocols for an immunofluorescent assay and we
stern blot analysis to detect RSV F protein expression
* Developed a semi-quantitative Western blot assay to measure protein expression
from clinical lots of CMV VRP to demonstrate lot to lot consistency
* Lead research scientist for the melanoma VRP vaccine project team
o Designed and developed melanoma VRP vaccines
o Coordinated research activities with scientists at the Memorial Sloan-Ketterin
g Cancer Center and provided VRP for pre-clinical animal studies
Senior Research Associate Scientist 2001-2007
* Lead research scientist in the design and development of CMV VRP vaccines for
a CMV vaccine Phase I clinical trial
* Collaborated with scientists at Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health to deve
lop a single-dose VRP vaccine against Feline Leukemia virus
* Developed VRP vaccines against potential Bio-weapons such as Botulism and Smal
lpox for the Department of Defense
* Produced and purified numerous target antigens to * 95% purity for antibody ge
neration
Research Associate Scientist 2000-2001
* Developed VRP purification methods
* Generated protein reagents for immuno-assay development
* Cloned target antigens into replicon vectors
The University of North Carolina
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory of Dr. Stephen Haskill
The research laboratory focused on the inflammatory response mechanism of periph
eral blood monocytes to soluble and matrix proteins
Research Technician III/Research Analyst I 1987-2000
* Managed lab; responsible for maintaining stock reagents and consumables
* Supervised and trained medical students
* Isolated peripheral blood monocytes and analyzed adherent cellular responses t
o matrix proteins (i.e. collagen, fibronectin) using Northern and Western blot t
echniques.
* Generated cDNA libraries from mononocytes and isolated genes up-regulated by a
dherence
* Performed a broad range of molecular techniques including subcloning, protein
expression/purification, immunofluorescent assays, radioactive and non-radioacti
ve probe generation, and dideoxy sequencing
Publications and Abstracts
Avogadri F, Merghoub T, Maughan M, Hirschhorn D, Morris J, Ritter E, Houghton A
,
Wolchok J. Alphavirus-like replicon particles provide potent therapeutic effect
on melanoma through concomitant activation of humoral and cellular immunity. 201
0. Submitted to Nature Medicine
Bernstein DI, Reap EA, Katen K, Watson A, Smith K, Norberg P, Olmsted RA, Hoeper
A, Morris J, Negri S, Maughan MF, Chulay JD. Randomized, double-blind, Phase 1
trial of an alphavirus replicon vaccine for cytomegalovirus in CMV seronegative
adult volunteers. Vaccine 2010: 28:484-493.
Avogadri F, Merghoub T, Maughan M, Hirschhorn D, Morris J, Ritter E, Houghton A
,
Wolchok J. Alphavirus-like particles expressing melanocyte differentiation antig
ens are effective vaccines for melanoma. 2009. Presented at the American Associa
tion of Immunologists Meeting, Seattle, Washington
Hooper JW, Ferro AM, Golden JW, Silvera P, Dudek J, Alterson K, Custer M, Rivers
B, Morris J, Owens G, Smith JF, and Kamrud KI. Molecular Smallpox Vaccine Deliv
ered by Alphavirus Replicons Elicits Protective Immunity in Mice and Non-Human P
rimates. Vaccine 2009; 13(13).
Bernstein D, Hoeper A, Reap EA, Morris J, Negri S, Maughan M, Olmstead R, Chulay
J. Safety and Immunogenicity of an Alphavirus Replicon Vaccine for Cytomegalovi
rus (CMV) in Healthy Adults. 2008 Presented at the Interscience Conference on An
timicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy/Infectious Disease Society of America, Washi
ngton DC
Reap EA, Dryga SA, Morris J, Rivers B, Norberg PK, Olmsted RA, Chulay JD. Cellul
ar and humoral immune responses to alphavirus replicon vaccines expressing cytom
egalovirus pp65, IE1, and gB proteins. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2007; 14(6):748-55.
Reap EA, Morris J, Dryga SA, Maughan M, Talarico T, Esch RE, Negri S, Burnett B,
Graham A, Olmsted RA, Chulay JD. Development and preclinical evaluation of an a
lphavirus replicon particle vaccine for cytomegalovirus. Vaccine 2007; 25(42):74
41-9.
Morris J, Reap E, Reid R, Norberg P, Rivers B, Chulay J, Olmstead R, Dryga S. 20
03, Development of an Alphavirus Replicon Vector Vaccine for Human CMV. Presente
d at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Virology, Davis, Califor
nia
Li X, Hunter D, Morris J, Haskill S, Earp S. A Calcium-dependent Tyrosine Kinase
Splice Variant in Human Monocytes. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 1998; 2
73, 9361-9364.
Sirenko O, Lofquist A, Morris J. et al. Adhesion-dependent Regulation of an ARE-
Binding Activity Associated with AUF-1. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 1997, 17
, 3898-3906.
Lofquist A, Mondal K, Morris J, Haskill J. Transcription-independent turnover of
IkB*/Mad-3 during monocytes adherence: Implications for a translational compone
nt regulating IkB*/Mad-3mRNA levels. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 1995, 15, 1
737-1746.
Lin L, Yurochko A, Kornberg L, Morris J, Walker J, Haskill S, Juliano R. The rol
e of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in integrin-mediated gene induction in mon
ocytes. Journal of Cell Biology, 1994, 126, 1585-1593.
Morris J, Luginbuhl G, Conjugative Plasmids in Bordetella avium. Plasmid, 1992,
27, 251-255.
Rinehart C, Haskill S, Morris J, et al. Extended life span of human endometrial
stromal cells with a cloned origin defective, temperature-sensitive simian virus
40. Journal of Virology, 1991, 65, 1458-1465.
Haskill S, Beg A, Tompkins M, Morris J, Yurochko A, Sampson-Johannes A, Mondal K
, Ralph P, Baldwin A. Characterization of an immediate early gene induced in mon
ocytes which encodes I*B activity. Cell, 1991, 65, 1281-1289.
Haskill S, Martin G, Van Le L, Morris J, Peace A, Bigler C, Jaffe G, Hammerberg
C, Sporn S, Fong S, Arend W, Ralph P. cDNA cloning of an intracellular form of t
he human interleukin 1 receptor antagonist associated with epithelium. Proceedin
gs of the National Academy of Science USA, 1991, 88, 3681-3685.
Sporn S, Eierman D, Johnson C, Morris J, Martin G, Ladner M, Haskill S. Monocyte
adherence results in selective induction of novel genes sharing homology with m
ediators of inflammation and tissue repair. Journal of Immunology, 1990, 144, 44
34-4441.
Haskill S, Peace A, Morris J et al. Identification of three related GRO genes en
coding cytokine functions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 1
990, 87, 7732-7736.
Morris J. The conjugative ability of Bordetella avium plasmids and a genetic ana
lysis of plasmid p4093. 1990. (Thesis)
Grubb B, Duvall G, Morris J, et al. Accumulation of Cadmium by the eye with spec
ial reference to the lens. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 1985, 77, 440-45
0.
Patents
Chulay J.D., Dryga S., Reap; E.A., Olmsted; R.A., Morris; J.S. "Alphavirus-base
d cytomegalovirus vaccines". US Patent 7,419,674. September 2, 2008

Honors and Awards

1986 Outstanding Assistant Teachers Award North Carolina State Universi
ty

Techniques
Plasmid and chromosomal DNA purification, Southern blot analysis, subcloning, PC
R, RT-PCR, Site-directed mutagenesis, sequence analysis using Vector NTI; RNA tr
anscription, purification, Northern blot analysis using chemiluminescent or radi
oactive probes; Protein expression in mammalian cells and E.coli, Western blot a
nalysis using HRP/chemiluminescence or AP/substrate detection methods, ELISA, si
lver stain; protein purification using affinity, ion exchange, and size-exclusio
n chromatography, sucrose gradient and protein concentration centrifugation; ele
ctroporation, infection, lipofection, stable clone selection; Break out, expansi
on, banking of adherent cell lines: Vero, MRC-5, HEp2, BHK; Virus propagation, p
laque assay; Experienced working in a BSL3 facility

References
Robert Olmstead, Ph.D. Maureen Maughan, Ph.D. Kurt Kamrud, Ph.D.
VP Research Director of Applied Research Senior Director o
f Discovery
AlphaVax, Inc. AlphaVax, Inc. AlphaVa
x, Inc.
2 Triangle Drive 2 Triangle Drive 2 Trian
gle Drive
RTP, NC 27709 RTP, NC 27709 RTP, NC 27709
(919) 595-0323 (919) 595-0328 (919) 595-
0396