ATLANTA - Since graduating from Georgia State, Shar Siri (M.I.S. '22) has enjoyed a thriving career as a research scientist and discovered her passion for fighting cancer. Now, she's stepping into a new role in cell therapy manufacturing focused on treating cancer patients.

While earning her Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in Biomedical Science and Enterprise degree from Georgia State's Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Siri worked as a graduate research assistant, which equipped her to excel in research. Upon graduation in summer 2022, she landed a job as an associate scientist at SIRPant Immunotherapeutics (now BobcatBio Inc.) in Hummelstown, Penn., where she worked for three and a half years. Now, she's taking a leap into a new position as a senior cell specialist at Northwest Biotherapeutics in Pittsburgh.

At SIRPant Immunotherapeutics, Siri's work focused on a macrophage-based cell therapy for the treatment of a broad range of cancers.

"My role as an associate scientist at SIRPant was extremely fulfilling," Siri said. "I spent over three years as part of a small but mighty team that took previous preclinical findings into a clinical setup with a first-in-human Phase I clinical trial of Bobcat's proprietary macrophage-based cell therapy product. I blossomed from a junior team member to an integral part of the R&D [research and development] team, and my responsibilities encompassed the design, execution and analysis of experiments. This role exposed me to nuances of the cell therapy world and was the perfect introduction to the industry. Life was always fast-paced and extremely intellectually stimulating."

In her new job as a senior cell specialist at Northwest Biotherapeutics, Siri's primary role is to set up, handle and oversee the entire cell manufacturing process for patient administration. Siri will also be leading and supporting a Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) manufacturing team. Northwest Biotherapeutics is focused on discovering, developing and commercializing immunotherapy products that generate and enhance immune system responses to treat cancer. The company's focus is cell therapy manufacturing, which is the process of growing, modifying and preparing living cells to treat cancer.

Originally from Bengaluru, a city in southern India, Siri is the first in her family to pursue a research career. Before coming to Georgia State, Siri earned her Bachelor of Engineering in Biotechnology from an institution in southern India. Next, she moved to the United Kingdom to pursue her first master's degree, a Master of Science in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine from The University of Sheffield. Then, the global pandemic occurred.

"When I chose to move to the U.S., it was a difficult situation everywhere, and all I really wanted to do was pursue my passion for research," Siri said. "GSU was the light at the end of the tunnel for me."

Siri was drawn to apply to the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in Biomedical Science and Enterprise degree program because it is designed to act as a bridge between academia and industry.

"I have found this to be true. GSU prepared me for the transition into industry not just because I could say I completed an interdisciplinary degree, but because the courses offered were truly relevant to the roles outside academia," Siri said. "For example, having a working knowledge of patent law is super helpful when you work for a little startup."

The interdisciplinary nature of the program also caught her eye, and Siri was fortunate to be offered a full academic scholarship.

"It was unlike any other program in the country, and I anticipated that it would help me prepare in a practical way for the real world," Siri added. "I was right. However, the real surprise was after I started attending GSU. It is such a melting pot of people from different backgrounds, different cultures and those at different stages of life. Additionally, Atlanta is such a lively city with so many things to do and experience."

During her master's studies, Siri pursued the research track and had the opportunity to work with Hongyu Qiu, whose lab focused on understanding the mechanisms contributing to cardiovascular diseases, and learn from her team, an experience that prepared Siri for her professional research career. She worked closely with Shannen Sun, a postdoctoral fellow who taught her essential lab techniques and also provided key training for in vivo experiments in mice.

"I have found my passion in cell therapy, with a focus on the use of it for the treatment of cancer," Siri said. "I anticipate I will stay in this field, and the goal is to be a pivotal member of the cell therapy world. I hope to help fill the big gaps that are threatening the field and to be able to translate amazing science into real-world applications."