Mark W. Nowak

About Mark W. Nowak

We have developed an easy-to-use Dynamic Clamp System, the Cybercyte, that allows for the integration of electronically-generated ion channel currents in real time (50-100 kHz sampling rates) into signals recorded from electrically active cells (e.g. cardiomyocytes and neurons). Importantly, our dynamic clamp system easily connects to your existing electrophysiology amplifier eliminating the need to purchase new a amplifier and learn new acquisition software. Our system comes with a library of over 100 cardiac and neuronal ion channel models ready to use. Further, the user can easily add there own or published Markov and Hodgkin-Huxley models. We provide a GUI-based Markov Model solver software which allows the user to easily test their own models or published models and then incorporate them into our dynamic clamp software. We also offer custom electrophysiology services and are capable of recording ion channel currents in a variety of cell lines (e.g, HEK), hiPSCDs and primary cells (cardiomyocytes, neurons). We also are capable of recording cardiac and neuronal action potentials. Finally, we offer custom ion channel modeling services.In addition to our dynamic clamp system, we offer far red voltage-sensitive dyes (Cytovolt1 and Cytovolt2) for recording APs using fluorescence as well as a sensitive fluorescence detection system.Applications:1) Restoration of the physiological resting membrane potential of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and neurons by by the electronic addition of IK1 and rectifying background K+ currents, respectively, allowing for recording of stable action potentials and detailed quantitative analysis of action potentials (APs).2) Real-time passive leak correction improving the accuracy and efficiency of electrophysiological recording of hiPSC-CM APs. 3) Input of a recorded current trace as a conductance (with variable magnitude and reversal potential control).4) Input of a real-time optical signal (e.g, Ca++ sensitive dye fluorescence) to drive electronic expression of an ion channel (e.g, Ca++-dependent K+ current).5) Electronically express individual ion channel models created in the in silico NEURON simulation software increasing the number of ion channel models available to the user.6) In Synthetic Cell Mode, user can create an in silico cell or use NEURON in silico cell and input a current expressed in a real cell into the in silico cell. This has utility in drug screen where the effects of drugs acting at ion channels on electrically activity and AP behavior can be directly assessed.

Experience

1. Lead Scientist

   Cytocybernetics

   Dec 2015 — Present · Buffalo, NY, US

   We have developed a user friendly plug and play Dynamic Clamp system, the Cybercyte, that allows for the integration of electronically-generated ion channel currents in real time into signals recorded from cardiomyocytes, neurons and common cell lines. We use both Markov models and Hodgkin-Huxley models, as needed. We can electronically express a wide range of currents, including INa, ICa, IKS, IK1 and IHERG. One of our applications is to use the Cybercyte to record stable cardiac action potentials from Induced pluripotent adult stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes (iPSCD_CM). iPSCD-CMs are limited in studying integrated cardiac action potentials since they lack the IK1 potassium channel. The Cybercyte electronically expresses IK1, which restores the physiological diastolic potential enabling detailed quantitative analysis of iPSCD_CM action potentials. We further improved the accuracy and efficiency of recording cardiac action potentials using the Cybercyte to correct in real-time increases in passive leak that routinely occur in patch clamp electrophysiology recording. Using the Cybercyte we provide early-stage cardiotoxicity screening of lead candidates for the pharmaceutical industry in accordance with the FDA\'s Comprehensive In Vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) initiative.

Education

• Case Western Reserve University

  Bachelor of Science (BSc), Biochemistry

  1981 — 1985

• University at Buffalo

  Ph.D., Pharmacology

  1985 — 1992

Skills

• Molecular Pharmacology
• Protein Assays
• Pcr
• Clinical Development
• Western Blotting
• Enzymes
• Molecular Biology
• Pcr Primer Design
• Project Management
• Multidisciplinary Design
• Lifesciences
• Protein Expression
• Protein Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Presentations
• Drug Development
• Elisa
• Biochemistry
• Signal Transduction
• Assay Development
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Budget Management
• Recombinant Dna Technology
• Pharmacology
• Receptors
• Staff Development
• Life Sciences
• Fda
• Neuropharmacology
• Cell Signaling
• Electrophysiology
• U.s. Food and Drug Administration (Fda)
• Protein-Protein Interactions
• Protein Structure
• Ion Channels
• Tissue Culture
• Fluorescence Anisotropy
• Ind
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (Pcr)
• Research Design