I am a staff scientist with 10 years of experience in molecular and cellular biology. Since joining LLNL in 2010, I have been fortunate enough to participate in a wide range of projects from embryonic Xenopus development to bone biology then ultimately cancer biology. My current research is focused on understanding the dynamics driving cancer behavior with specific interest in murine models of cancer. Additionally, I have developed expertise in sequencing technologies/applications throughout my time at LLNL and I am concurrently enrolled at UC Merced in Quantitative & Systems Biology in pursuit of a doctoral degree focusing on cellular and molecular characteristics of breast cancer tumors.

Professional Experience

2008-2009       Research Associate; Biolog Inc, Hayward, CA

2010-2011       Graduate Researcher; BBTD/PLS, LLNL, Livermore CA

2011-pres.       Biomedical Scientist; BBTD/PLS, LLNL, Livermore CA

2018-pres        Doctoral Graduate Student; Quantitative & Systems Biology, UC Merced, Merced CA

University of California, Merced, Quantitative & Systems Biology, PhD, Ongoing

California State University, East Bay, Biology, MS, 2010

University of California, Davis, Microbiology, BS, 2007

Up to 5 publications most closely related to the proposed project

1. Hum NR, Martin KA, Malfatti M, Haack K, Buchholz BA, Loots GG. Tracking Tumor Colonization in Xenograft Mouse Models Using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Scientific Reports. 2018; 8:15013.
2. Hudson BD, Hum NR, Thomas CB, Kohlgruber A, Sebastian A, Collette NM, Coleman MA, Christiansen BA, Loots GG. (2015) SOST Inhibits Prostate Cancer Invasion. PLoS ONE 10(11): e0142058. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142058
3. Sebastian A, Hum NR, Hudson BD, Loots GG.  Cancer–Osteoblast Interaction Reduces Sost Expression in Osteoblasts and Up-Regulates lncRNA MALAT1  in Prostate Cancer. Microarrays 2015, 4, 503-519; doi:10.3390/microarrays4040503
4. Sebastian A, Hum NR, Morfin C, Murugesh DK, Loots GG. Global gene expression analysis identifies Mef2c as a potential player in Wnt16-mediated transcriptional regulation. Gene. 2018;675:312–21.
5. Sebastian A, Hum NR, Murugesh D…Loots GG. (2017) Wnt co-receptors Lrp5 and Lrp6 differentially mediate Wnt3a signaling in osteoblasts. PLoS ONE 12(11):e0188264. DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0188264

Up to 5 other significant publications, whether or not related to the proposed project.

1. Chang JC, Christiansen BA, Murugesh DK, Sebastian A., Hum,NR, Hatsell, S, Economides AN, Blanchette CD, Loots GG (2018) SOST/Sclerostin improves post traumatic osteoarthritis and inhibits MMP2/3 expression after injury. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
2. Enright H, Falso JSF, Malfatti MA…Hum NR…Turteltaub KW. Maternal exposure to an environmentally relevant dose of triclocarban results in perinatal exposure and potential alterations in offspring development in the mouse model. (2017) DOI: PLoS ONE 12(8):e0181996. 10.1371/journal.pone.0181996
3. Collette NM, Yee CS, Hum NR,…Loots GG. (2016) Sostdc1 Deficiency Accelerates Fracture Healing by Promoting the Expansion of Periosteal Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Bone 88. DOI10.1016/j.bone.2016.04.005
4. Loots GG, Bergmann A, Hum NR, Oldenburg CE, Wills AE, Hu N. Ovcharenko I, Harland RM. (2013) Interrogating Transcriptional Regulatory Sequences in Tol2-Mediated Xenopus Transgenics. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68548. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068548
5. Yee CS, Xie L, Hatsell S, Hum NR, Murugesh D, Economides AN, Loots GG, Collette NM. Sclerostin antibody treatment improves fracture outcomes in a Type I diabetic mouse model. Bone. 2016 Jan;82:122-34.