Hunain Alam

About Hunain Alam

I am an innovative, data-driven scientist deeply passionate about developing medicines to improve patients\' lives.Skilled in managing projects from early discovery stages, adept at developing strategies for target validation, lead optimization, and generate proof-of-concept data for candidate selection, helped progress two assets into clinical trials.I possess a profound understanding of cancer dependencies, synthetic lethality, genomics, epigenetics, oncogenic cell signaling, and DNA damage.Core-competencies: Precision oncology | Drug discovery | Small molecule | Target validation | Pharmacology | Predictive biomarkers |Translation Drug discovery (different modalities): Critical path for Hit identification (including HTS assays), Hit to lead optimization (compound profiling), and candidate selection. Target identification and target biology: Model selection and development (Lentivirus, RNAi-/CRISPR), for target identification & validation, mechanism-of-action. Pharmacology: Target engagement (TE), Functional pharmacology, Pharmacodynamics (PD), tolerability (MTD), PK/PD and efficacy relationship, POC studies. Translational research: Predictive and PD biomarker discovery and development, NGS data mining (DepMap, TCGA, COSMIC, PRISM, Array Studio etc.), clinically actionable biomarker assay development, CRISPR/chemogenomic screen for MOA, and resistance mechanism. Management & leadership: Management of cross-functional projects within multidisciplinary teams /CROs, managing direct reports and training junior scientists.

Experience

1. Principal Scientist

   Expedition Medicines

   Mar 2025 — Present · US

   Leading oncology discovery projects by developing strategies for the critical path from hit-to-lead through lead optimization. Established biochemical and cellular assays to enable SAR, collaborated with cross-functional teams for scientific alignment, and analyzed complex data to support decision-making. Communicated recommendations and progress to leadership.Spearheaded the evaluation of high-value oncology targets suitable for covalent drug design in alignment with company strategy. Generated key validation data and developed derisking strategies for target prioritization.Managed CRO activities for biochemical and cell-based assay development and compound profiling. Mentored junior scientists in experimental planning and execution.

Education

• University of Mumbai

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD , Oncology and Cancer Biology

  2005 — 2011

• Jamia Hamdard

  Master of Science - MS, Toxicology

  2002 — 2005

• Aligarh Muslim University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Chemistry

  1998 — 2001

Skills

• Polymerase Chain Reaction (Pcr)
• Molecular Cloning
• Animal Models
• Biochemistry
• Research
• Life Sciences
• Western Blotting
• Mouse Genetics
• Biotechnology
• Protein Purification
• Epigenetics
• In Vivo
• Immunohistochemistry
• Qpcr
• Chip-Seq
• Transduction
• Graphpad Prism
• Flow Cytometry
• Site-Directed Mutagenesis
• Cell Biology
• Genetics
• Immunoprecipitation
• Cancer
• Mouse Models
• Transfection
• Signal Transduction
• Cell Culture
• Bioinformatics
• Cell Signaling
• Dna
• Confocal Microscopy
• Tissue Culture
• Rt-Pcr
• Rnaseq
• Pcr
• Immunofluorescence
• Molecular Biology
• Fluorescence Microscopy
• Rnai
• In Vitro