Career Panel and Mental Health Speaker (Irell & Manella Graduate School Alumni)
Kumi Sakurai, Ph.D.
Principal Scientist and Intellectual Property Manager, R&D, FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific. Mental Health & Wellness Speaker
Dr. Sakurai’s doctoral training focused on defining the mechanism of siRNA selection and its function in mammalian cells. As a postdoctoral fellow at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, she studied the mechanism of somatic cell reprogramming to induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) by applying shRNA-mediated knockdown and functional analysis of mouse kinome and discovered a major role of kinases known for cytoskeletal remodeling in iPSC development. Additionally, she studied epigenetic gene regulations of human iPSCs, neural precursor cells, and embryonic stem cells at UCLA Department of Human Genetics before she joined FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific in 2014. At FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific as a Principal Scientist, she leads Special Operations across the company in issues related to Assisted Reproductive Technology, Cell and Gene Therapy, and Bioproduction culture media manufacturing, testing, and use. She also manages the Intellectual Property program to protect and optimize the value of the company’s key assets.
Contact Information: kumi.sakurai@fujifilm.com
Website: www.linkedin.com/in/kumi-sakurai-7a9447b
Reena Thomas, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor in Neuro-Oncology at Stanford Medicine
Dr. Reena Thomas, MD, PhD, is a Clinical Associate Professor in Neuro Oncology at Stanford Medicine leading a translational research team in immune-based therapy for cancer. Holding dual degrees in medicine and molecular immunology, Dr. Thomas has worked for more than two decades to integrate clinical expertise with a deep understanding of cellular immunotherapy mechanisms and burgeoning technologies such as CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T lymphocyte) cell therapy. These scientific advancements center foremost on improving outcomes for her patients with central nervous system tumors and all those impacted by neurologic complications of cancer.
As a leader in translational research, Dr. Thomas recently secured a $12 million award to spearhead CAR-T cell therapy innovation for glioblastoma brain tumors, working with her team to revolutionize treatment possibilities and outcomes for patients. She brings more than a decade of experience serving as principal investigator on several NIH-funded research programs and trials including a study that established the new standard of care for using checkpoint inhibitor immune therapy for melanoma brain metastasis. Her dedication to advancing medical knowledge is grounded in providing hope to families and bringing her diverse lived experience and scientific accomplishments to bear in the fight against cancer.
Beyond research, Dr. Thomas is nationally recognized for her excellence in medical education, and for her role in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals in her tenure as Fellowship Program Director of Neuro Oncology and subsequently as Associate Dean of Diversity in Medical Education at Stanford Medicine. Her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in medicine is evident through her advocacy for health equity, striving to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure equitable access to care for all patients. Beginning August 1, 2024, Dr. Thomas will be the Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education at Stanford Medicine.
Dr. Thomas continues to lead in education program development, principally via a transformative $25 million gift fueling the REACH initiative (Racial Equity to Advance Community Health). This initiative reflects Dr. Thomas’ outcome focused approach to addressing health disparities and to promoting community well-being through innovation and collaborative solutions.
Contact Information: reenat@stanford.edu
Lindsay Williams, Ph.D.
Sales and Business Development Manager at MIFI Bioceuticals
Dr. Williams defended her PhD in January 2023 at City of Hope after finishing a thesis in the Shively Lab developing antibody and cytokine-based immunotherapies for CEA+ solid tumors. During her PhD, she completed the Keck Graduate Institute certificate program in biotech-focused business development, which helped her grow her network and skillset before entering the job market. She was also involved in leadership of the non-profit organization, Graduate Women in Science (Los Angeles Chapter), during her graduate studies, which also expanded her network and exposure to different types of roles in the industry. These experiences contributed very well to her current role as Sales and Business Development Manager. She currently works under Mitsubishi (in the division of MIFI Bioceuticals) representing a Japanese subsidiary (PeptiGrowth) developing synthetic peptide growth factors. She has a lot of experience in the job search process as well as various ways to network and present yourself, so she is happy to offer advice.
Jennifer Covello, Ph.D.
Analytical Development Senior Scientist at Turnstone Biologics
Dr. Jennifer Covello emigrated from Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1998. She pursued her education in the United States, beginning with an Associate of Science in Biology from Chaffey College, which she completed between 2008 and 2013. Dr. Covello then earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California, Riverside, from 2013 to 2015. During her undergraduate studies, she served as a research assistant in parasitology and biomedical sciences from 2014 to 2015, and in nematology and plant molecular biology from 2013 to 2014. Dr. Covello continued her education at the City of Hope Graduate School, where she obtained a PhD in Biological Sciences from 2015 to 2020. Her thesis work focused on neural stem cell-mediated oncolytic virotherapy for the treatment of glioblastoma and ovarian cancers. Concurrently, she earned a Certificate in Bioscience Management from the Keck Graduate Institute, with an emphasis on clinical trial development, from 2018 to 2020. In 2024, Dr. Covello obtained a Certificate in Project Management from the San Diego College for Continuing Education.
Dr. Covello's professional experience includes postdoctoral research at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2021, where she investigated the role of the peripheral nervous system in mediating both tumor progression and cancer-related inflammation. From 2021 to 2023, she worked at Immatics US as a closed system process development scientist for TCR cellular therapy. Currently, she is an analytical development senior scientist at Turnstone Biologics, focusing on TIL therapy characterization and optimization.
Her accolades include the NIH R37 supplement fellowship award in September 2021, the Irell & Manella Travel Award from City of Hope in August 2017, and the ASGCT 20th Annual Meeting Travel Award in May 2017. Dr. Covello was also recognized as a Norman & Melinda Payson Fellow at City of Hope in April 2017 and an H.N. & Frances Berger Foundation Fellow in December 2015. Additionally, she received an honorable mention for her poster presentation at City of Hope in February 2015.
Contact: jennifercovello@outlook.com