Athina Zacharia
About Athina Zacharia
Athina Zacharia is a Postdoctoral Fellow specializing in pancreatic cancer drug development, with a strong background in cancer immunotherapy and assay optimization. She holds advanced degrees in Biotechnology and Philosophy, and has significant experience in clinical trial management and research at prestigious institutions.
Work at National Institutes of Health
Currently, Athina Zacharia serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Pancreatic Cancer Drug Development at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. Since 2014, she has been involved in research aimed at developing new therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer. Her work includes utilizing Seahorse technology to assess the metabolism of pancreatic cancer cell lines, contributing to the understanding of cancer biology and potential treatment options.
Education and Expertise
Athina Zacharia holds multiple degrees in Biotechnology and Philosophy from University 'la Sapienza' of Rome, Italy, where she earned a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science. Additionally, she obtained Doctorates in Immunology from Ethnikon Kai Kapodistriakon Panepistimion Athinon. Her educational background provides her with a strong foundation in both the scientific and philosophical aspects of research, particularly in cancer immunotherapy.
Background
Athina Zacharia has a diverse professional background in cancer research. She began her career at The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, where she worked as a Research Assistant from 2005 to 2008, followed by a position as Senior Research Assistant in Breast Cancer Vaccine Development from 2008 to 2014. This experience laid the groundwork for her current role at NIH, focusing on drug development for pancreatic cancer.
Achievements in Cancer Research
Zacharia has made significant contributions to cancer research, particularly in the development of vaccines. She evaluated the CD4 eliciting HER2 peptide vaccine AE37 in breast cancer patients, which is currently in clinical development by Antigen Express, Inc. Additionally, she managed the clinical trial that led to the identification of nelipepimut-S (NeuVaxTM), the first preventive breast cancer vaccine, before its FDA approval.
Technical Skills and Research Methods
Athina Zacharia possesses extensive technical skills in processing human whole blood specimens and conducting various cell-based assays, including flow cytometry. Her expertise in optimizing assays for immune monitoring enhances her contributions to cancer immunotherapy research, allowing for more effective evaluation of potential treatments.