Helen Turner, PhD

As a senior key investigator for the NIH/NIAID supported program, Center for High Throughput Minimally Invasive Radiation Biodosimetry, i have been responsible for the development of high-throughput cytogenetics assays for the Rapid Automated Biodosimetry Technology (RABiT) culminating with the present RABiT2 approach which utilizes commercial robotic high content screening platforms for high throughput biodosimetry. Overall, this expertise and experience to contribute to this current application. Our contract with BARDA, in partnership with ASELL, formerly Northrop Grumman Corporation, is designed to bring high-throughput biodosimetry technology from the laboratory through to FDA approval, and thus make it available for large scale use in the event of a major radiological event. I am the Project Science Manager of this program and my responsibilities are to provide scientific and operational input for quality controlled studies involving 1000s of blood samples and to ensure that the team performs assay protocols accurately while maintaining GLP compliance. To extend this research to the clinic, application of high-throughput cytogenetics-based assays will allow for automated assessment of individual and personalized global DNA repair capacity. After a radiological event such as a dirty bomb attack or industrial accident, there is an urgent need for fast and reliable bioassays to identify radiation-exposed individuals for early triage and medical treatment within the first week post exposure. We have identified a panel of candidate protein biomarkers in vivo using the humanized mouse model and shotgun proteomics that can detect DNA damage longer than 48 h. The long-term goal here is to develop a diagnostic test device based on a panel of radiosensitive protein biomarkers that can be used for population triage after a mass-casualty radiation event, up to a week post-exposure.