Dr. Katrin Besold

The cell substrate analytics group is responsible for the characterization of production cell lines, mainly for clinical trials: genetic characterization, cell line stability & homogeneity and viral safety evaluation according to ICH Q5A, Q5B & Q5D (and related local guidelines). My activities include the management of 10 to 15 direct reports, resource planning, GMP compliance, support for IND / IMPD applications.

Head of Laboratory in Cell Line and Adventitious Agents Analytics, Bioprocess R&D, Novartis Pharma Basel - Subject Matter Expert for 10-20 Early and Late Phase Development Projects - Release Analytics for Production Cell Banks, Bulk Harvests and End-of-Production Cell Banks under cGMP (Genetic Characterization + Absence of adventitious agents) - Supervision of Adventitious Agents Testings at Contractor Laboratories - In-House Molecular Biology Testings - 3-6 direct reports

Postdoctoral Research: Investigation of the regulation of MHC-class I antigen presentation of HCMV (Human Cytomegalovirus) infected cells. The impact of viral immune evasion strategies on MHC-I presentation was analysed using different viral immune evasion deletion mutants generated via BAC mutagenesis. MHC-I antigen presentation was analysed using virus specific CD8 T cells that had been established by peptide immunization of huCD8 / HLA-A2 transgenic mice. Supervision of 1-2 technicians & 1 PhD student.

Virology, Immunology, Molecular Biology. PhD Thesis: Impact of immunevasive strategies of the Human Cytomegalovirus on the MHC class I presentation of the viral antigens pp65 and IE1

Genetics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Plant Physiology. Diploma Thesis: New strategies for genomic engineering of the genome of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)