Melissa is a biochemist specializing in protein production.  During her 15+ year career with Amgen, she has led a team in downstream purification and analytical characterization of a wide range of proteins, supporting both large and small molecule therapeutic development.  Melissa joined Amgen through the acquisition of Avidia, Inc., where she was a Scientist in the Process Development Department.  Her current research interests include production of challenging multi-specific molecules.  She also maintains an interest in leveraging data management systems to define, track and mine protein data from engineering design to final product quality.    

Featured Publications

Hasegawa H, Wei KY, Thomas M, Li P, Kinderman F, Franey H, Liu L, Jacobsen F. "Light chain subunit of a poorly soluble human IgG2λ crystallizes in physiological pH environment both in cellulo and in vitro." Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2021 1868(9):119078. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34118277/

Belmontes B, Sawant DV, Zhong W, Tan H, Kaul A, Aeffner F, O'Brien SA, Chun M, Noubade R, Eng J, Ma H, Muenz M, Li P, Alba BM, Thomas M, Cook K, Wang X, DeVoss J, Egen JG, Nolan-Stevaux O. "Immunotherapy combinations overcome resistance to bispecific T cell engager treatment in T cell-cold solid tumors."  Science Translational Med. 2021 13(608):eabd1524. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34433637/

Giffin MJ, Cooke K, Lobenhofer EK, Estrada J, Zhan J, Deegen P, Thomas M, Murawsky CM, Werner J, Liu S, Lee F, Homann O, Friedrich M, Pearson JT, Raum T, Yang Y, Caenepeel S, Stevens J, Beltran PJ, Canon J, Coxon A, Bailis JM, Hughes PE. "AMG757, a Half-Life Extended, DLL3-Targeted Bispecific T-Cell Engager, Shows High Potency and Sensitivity in Preclinical Models of Small-Cell Lung Cancer." Clinical Cancer Res. 2021 27(5):1526-1537. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33203642/

Hulme JT, D'Souza WN, McBride HJ, Yoon BP, Willee AM, Duguay A, Thomas M, Fan B, Dayao MR, Rottman JB, Merriam K, Xie J, Smith R, Alba BM, Case RB, Dang K, Montalvan A, Grinberg N, Sun H, Black RA, Gabel CA, Sims JE, Moore K, Bakker A, Li P. "Novel protein therapeutic joint retention strategy based on collagen-binding Avimers."  J Orthopaedic Research. 2018 36 (4), 1238-1247. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28971529/

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco (American Cancer Society Fellow)
Ph.D. Biophysical Chemistry, Stanford University, (NSF Graduate Research Fellow)
B.S. Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin