Michael Meechan

About Michael Meechan

Michael earned a B.S. in chemistry and minor in music at the University of Washington. He is passionate about preclinical translational research and leads the Vitanza Lab\'s in vivo studies at Seattle Children\'s Research Institute. One of his primary skills resides in developing murine xenografts by performing survival stereotaxic intracranial surgeries. Michael helps investigate novel therapies in patient-derived tumor models of life-threatening pediatric central system tumors with the hope of best informing future clinical trials. Learn more about the Vitanza Lab: Outside of work Michael enjoys instructing high school drumlines, fishing and shellfishing, cooking, gardening and tending to his freshwater tropical aquariums.

Experience

1. Research Scientist Ii - Vitanza Lab

   Seattle Children's

   Nov 2021 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   Leads in vivo studies.• Established a survival stereotaxic intracranial surgical suite to optimize and maximize throughput and reproducibility of studies.• Investigates single and combinatorial therapies, including CAR T-cell immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.• Works with patient-derived tumor models (PDX) of life-threatening pediatric central system tumors, including DMGs and DIPGs.• Helps mentor incoming in vivo scientists within the Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer (department within Seattle Children\'s Research Institute in which the Vitanza Lab is a part of), including basics of experimental design, animal welfare and privilege, and technical in vivo skills.

Education

• University of Washington

  Bachelor’s Degree, Chemistry

  2012 — 2016

• University of Washington

  Minor, Music

  2012 — 2016