Thomas D. Pfister
Toronto,Canada
Summary
Dynamic PhD scientist with extensive expertise in product / reagent development, clinical biomarker assay development, pharmacodynamics and protein engineering, supported by a strong background in biochemistry, chemistry and immunology. Excels in diverse roles, from Scientist to Project Manager, with a proven track record in reagent development and validation across various platforms, including multiplex imaging mass cytometry (IMC)/IHC and ELISA. Demonstrates leadership in managing internal projects and external collaborations and contracts (including custom antibody and recombinant protein production), with interdisciplinary training in clinical research and project management (PMP certified). Recognized for exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, fostering collaboration among internal and external teams to effectively meet business objectives and stakeholder needs.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
12
12
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Product Development Scientist II (R&D Group)
Standard Biotools
10.2021 - 10.2025
- Developing imaging mass cytometry reagents under design control
- Leading antibody reagent development projects for Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC) applications including "Best selling" Human Immuno-oncology IMC kit and compatible expansion kits..
- Supporting internal reagent and instrument development projects
- Supporting external collaborations leading to publications , service contracts and instrument sales.
- Working within cross functional teams to see the developed product through to launch.
- Streamlined documentation processes withn R&D resulting in reduced time-to-market for new products.
- Collaborated with marketing teams to translate technical specifications into accessible product information for stakeholders.
- Provided training and mentorship to team members on industry best practices, fostering continuous learning and development within the department.
Research Technician III
Princess Margaret Cancer Center / UHN
01.2019 - 10.2021
- Leading assay development of multispectral 7-color fluorescent immunohistochemistry (FL-IHC) assays for tumor infiltrating cells and immune checkpoint biomarkers in the tumor microenvironment of multiple histologies (including ovarian, pancreatic, head and neck, sarcoma and melanoma) from clinical trials at PMCC.
- Implementing automated staining methods for multiplex FL-IHC and inter-center cancer biomarker assay transfer.
- Implementing machine learning image analysis with inForm and QuPATH software.
- Developing antigen specific T cells for immunotherapy.
- Optimizing Rapid protocols expansions for T cells using artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPC).
- Implementing automated multiplex ELISA assays on ELLA platform for cytokine analysis from patients on clinical trials.
- Processed patient blood and body fluids for University Health Network (UHN) COVID Biobank at Toronto General Hospital during pandemic.
Scientific Associate II
Princess Margaret Cancer Center / UHN
08.2016 - 01.2019
• Leading assay development of multispectral 7-color fluorescent immunohistochemistry (FL-IHC) assays for tumor infiltrating cells and immune checkpoint biomarkers in the tumor microenvironment of multiple histologies from clinical trials at PMCC.
• Developing antigen specific T cells for immunotherapy
• Optimizing Rapid protocols expansions for T cells using artificial antigen presenting cells (aAPC)
Technical project manager / Scientist II
LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC
04.2011 - 01.2016
- Technical project manager for contracts in excess of $1.5 million USD for production of epitope specific custom monoclonal antibodies (MAbs to over 20 targets) for use in quantitative immunoassays and recombinant proteins as calibrators/assay standards (48 constructs (full length proteins, truncated proteins or domains) for 37 targets).
- Designed antigens and screening strategies for monoclonal antibody development.
- Lead inventor on Patent filed for phospho-ATR monoclonal antibody (PCT Application No. PCT/US2014/059759) for use in DNA damage repair assays.
- Lead inventor on Patent filed for Stem cell marker CD133 monoclonal antibodies (U.S. Patent Application No. 62/138,825, filed March 26, 2015).
- Wrote Standard Operating procedures (SOP), statements of work (SOW), reviewed invoices for approval and wrote drafts of patent applications.
- Trained and managed research assistants and interns working on diverse projects ,fostering skill development and promoting best practices in research methodology.
- Managed Storage of Biospecimens from Clinical and Preclinical studies including LIMS specimen tracking.
- Performed technical evaluation of biological reagents for use in end applications.
*Leidos Biomedical is the Contractor operating the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research
Scientist II
LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC (Formerly SAIC)
04.2010 - 04.2011
- Led ELISA assay development project for Topoisomerase I inhibitors – Assays used supporting clinical trials and offered for community training.
- Validated ELISA assay for Top1 in solid tumors for preclinical and clinical use.
- Analyzed canine lymphoma clinical specimens using pharmacodynamic Top1-Immunoassay in support of a trial for Indenosioquinoline Topoisomerase inhibitors.
- Instructor for two assay training classes being transferred to clinical community: Topoisomerase 1 immunoassay and Circulating Tumor Cell gamma-H2AX assay.
- Developed and validated new immuno-assay to measure Topoisomerase covalent complex with DNA (Top1cc) preclinical and clinical samples treated with Topoisomerase I inhibitors.
- Performed feasibility testing of reagents and PD assays for analytical performance and fit for purpose.
- Performed Reagent QC and proving reagent support for clinical assays.
- Processed and analyzed biomarker response in patient CTC samples from multiple clinical trials.
- Trained and supervised research associates working on assay development and preclinical and clinical studies.
* Leidos Biomedical is the contractor for the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (Formerly SAIC-Frederick)
Sceintific Associate
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (UHN)
05.2016 - 08.2016
- (Cancer Genomics Program/ Drug Development Program) -short contract
Grant writing (CHIR) for multi-investigator Precision Medicine Clinical Trial using genomic and molecular profiling in conjunction with personalized drug sensitivity testing in patient derived mouse and organoid models - (Drug Development Program) – short contract
Consulted on biomarker assays and writing of Biomarker Supplement (NIH) requesting funding to develop and validate clinical assays for integrated biomarkers supporting clinical trials of immunotherapy treatment
Postdoctoral Fellow
LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC
06.2006 - 04.2010
- Company Overview: Contractor for the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research
- Measured Topoisomerase 1 levels in the NCI-60 cancer cell line panel using a novel ELISA immuno-assay.
- Developed new method for isolation of the drug trapped Top1 covalent-complex (Top1cc) catalytic intermediate covalently attached to DNA.
- Designed animal model experiments to mimic clinical sampling for PD.
- Measured drug effect in cancer cell lines and mouse xenograft models.
- Evaluated circulating tumor cells (CTC) in whole blood from patients enrolled in clinical trials at NCI.
- Used Veridex CellSearch system to study the effects of anti-cancer drugs on PD biomarkers in CTCs.
- Validated reagents for new CTC biomarker assays implemented in Support of Phase-0 and/or Phase I clinical trials.
- Evaluated outside technologies for acquisition.
- Established a collaboration with Dr. Yves Pommier’s Lab at the NIH resulting in three joint publications.
- Contractor for the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
01.2000 - 06.2006
- Redesigned an engineered manganese binding site in CcP using bioinformatics and rational design protein engineering.
- Crystallized Manganese binding site mutant of CcP with and without metal bound and deposited 2 structures in RCSB Protein Data Bank.
- Conducted extensive chemical, biochemical and spectroscopic investigations of engineered cytochrome c peroxidase variants.
- Key role in creation of an artificial manganese-salen containing metalloenzyme for enantioselective oxidation of substrates.
- Optimized conditions to improve enantioselectivity of thioanisole oxidation for the sulfoxide S enantiomer.
- Characterized and removed covalently attached heme contaminants from myoglobin variants with engineered cysteines in the active site.
- Used site directed mutagenesis to investigate the role of redox active tryptophans and tyrosines in cytochrome c peroxidase.
- Increased the stability of the reactive compound I Fe(IV)-oxo intermediate for a cytochrome c peroxidase mutant allowing for its clear spectroscopic observation with stopped flow UV-vis.
- Improved substrate oxidation for 2,6-dimethoxyphenol for CcP by 25 fold.
- Identified key residues in intermolecular cross-linking of CcP and dramatically decreased cross-linking in certain mutants.
- Structural and mechanistic studies of His-Tyr crosslinking in myoglobin and cytochrome c peroxidase models of the cytochrome c oxidase CuB center.
- Trained and supervised undergraduate and graduate students on enzyme design, purification and characterization projects.
Education
Ph.D. - Biochemistry
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Urbana-Champaign, IL 01.2000 - 05.2006
Master of Science - Chemistry
Carleton University
Ottawa, ON 01.1997 - 12.1999
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry
McGill University
Montreal, QC 09.1993 - 05.1996
Skills
- Reagent Development under Design Control
- Assay Development
- Imaging Mass Cytometry / Spatial Biology
- Protein Engineering / Antibody Development
- Cancer Research
- Project Management (PMP Certification)
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Full Professional
German
Advanced (C1)
Certification
PMP (PMI)
Timeline
Product Development Scientist II (R&D Group)
Standard Biotools
10.2021 - 10.2025
Research Technician III
Princess Margaret Cancer Center / UHN
01.2019 - 10.2021
Scientific Associate II
Princess Margaret Cancer Center / UHN
08.2016 - 01.2019
Sceintific Associate
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (UHN)
05.2016 - 08.2016
Technical project manager / Scientist II
LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC
04.2011 - 01.2016
Scientist II
LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC (Formerly SAIC)
04.2010 - 04.2011
Postdoctoral Fellow
LEIDOS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INC
06.2006 - 04.2010
Ph.D. - Biochemistry
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
01.2000 - 05.2006
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
01.2000 - 06.2006
Master of Science - Chemistry
Carleton University
01.1997 - 12.1999
Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry
McGill University
09.1993 - 05.1996
Patents
- Antibodies that specifically bind ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and RAD3-related kinase phosphorylated at position 1989 (pT1989 ATR) and their use, PCT/US2014/059759, 2014-10-08
- ANTI-CD133 MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND RELATED COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS, 62/138,825, 2015-03-26
- ANTI-pY1235-MET IMMUNOLOGICAL BINDING REAGENT, 62/309,920, 2016-03-01
Professional Associations
- American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), 2006-2015, 2023-present
- American Society for Clincal Oncology (ASCO), 2025-current
- Project Management Institute (PMI), 2015-present
Publications
- Immunologic, and Clinical Activity of Durvalumab in Combination with Olaparib or Cediranib in Advanced Leiomyosarcoma: Results of the DAPPER Clinical Trial., Salawu A, Wang BX, Han M, Geady C, Heirali A, Berman HK, Pfister TD, Hernando-Calvo A, Al-Ezzi EM, Stayner LA, Gupta AA, Ayodele O, Lam B, Hansen AR, Spreafico A, Bedard PL, Butler MO, Avery L, Coburn B, Haibe-Kains B, Siu LL, Abdul Razak AR., Clin Cancer Res., 2023-10-13, 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-1137
- Increase in serum choline levels predicts for improved progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced cancers receiving pembrolizumab., Watson GA, Sanz-Garcia E, Zhang WJ, Liu ZA, Yang SC, Wang B, Liu S, Kubli S, Berman H, Pfister T, Genta S, Spreafico A, Hansen AR, Bedard PL, Lheureux S, Abdul Razak A, Cescon D, Butler MO, Xu W, Mak TW, Siu LL, Chen E., J Immunother Cancer., 2022-06-01, 10.1136/jitc-2021-004378
- Novel antibody reagents for characterization of drug- and tumor microenvironment-induced changes in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells. Navas T, Pfister TD, Colantonio S, Aziz A, Dieckman L, Saul RG, Kaczmarczyk J, Borgel S, Alcoser SY, Hollingshead MG, Lee YH, Bottaro DP, Hiltke T, Whiteley G, Takebe N, Kinders RJ, Parchment RE, Tomaszewski JE, Doroshow JH.PLoS One. 2018 Jun 21;13(6):e0199361. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199361. eCollection 2018.PMID: 29928062
- The Root Causes of Pharmacodynamic Assay Failure. Ferry-Galow KV, Makhlouf HR, Wilsker DF, Lawrence SM, Pfister TD, Marrero AM, Bigelow KM, Yutzy WH, Ji JJ, Butcher DO, Gouker BA, Kummar S, Chen AP, Kinders RJ, Parchment RE, Doroshow JH. Semin Oncol. 2016 Aug;43(4):484-91. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2016.06.006. Review.
- Clinical and pharmacologic evaluation of two dosing schedules of indotecan (LMP400), a novel indenoisoquinoline, in patients with advanced solid tumors.Kummar S, Chen A, Gutierrez M, Pfister TD, Wang L, Redon C, Bonner WM, Yutzy W, Zhang Y, Kinders RJ, Ji J, Allen D, Covey JM, Eiseman JL, Holleran JL, Beumer JH, Rubinstein L, Collins J, Tomaszewski J, Parchment R, Pommier Y, Doroshow JH.Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2016 May 11. [Epub ahead of print]
- Characterization of DNA topoisomerase I in three SN-38 resistant human colon cancer cell lines reveals a new pair of resistance-associated mutationJensen NF, Agama K, Roy A, Smith DH, Pfister TD, Rømer MU, Zhang HL, Doroshow JH, Knudsen BR, Stenvang J, Brünner N, Pommier Y.J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2016 PMID:27029323
- Pharmacodynamic Response of the MET/HGF-Receptor to Small Molecule Tyrosine KinaseInhibitors Examined with Validated, Fit-for-Clinic Immunoassays.Srivastava AK, Hollingshead MG, Weiner J, Navas T, Evrard YA, Khin SA, Ji JJ, Zhang Y, Borgel S, Pfister TD, Kinders R, Bottaro DP, Linehan WM, Tomaszewski JE, Doroshow JH, Parchment RE. Clin Cancer Res. 2016 PMID: 27001313
- Enhancing Mn(II)-Binding and Manganese Peroxidase Activity in a Designed Cytochrome c Peroxidase through Fine-Tuning Secondary-Sphere Interactions.Hosseinzadeh P, Mirts EN, Pfister TD, Gao YG, Mayne C, Robinson H, Tajkhorshid E, Lu Y. Biochemistry. 2016 PMID: 26885726
- Identifying the elusive sites of tyrosyl radicals in cytochrome C peroxidase: implications for oxidation of substrates bound at a site remote from the heme.Miner KD*, Pfister TD*, Hosseinzadeh P, Karaduman N, Donald LJ, Loewen PC, Lu Y, Ivancich A. (* contributed equally to this work) Biochemistry. 2014 Jun 17;53(23):3781-9. doi: 10.1021/bi500353p. Epub 2014 Jun 5. PMID: 24901481
- A multi-histology trial of fostamatinib in patients with advanced colorectal, non-small cell lung, head and neck, thyroid, and renal cell carcinomas, and pheochromocytomas Park SR, Speranza G, Piekarz R, Wright JJ, Kinders RJ, Wang L, Pfister T, Trepel JB, Lee MJ, Alarcon S, Steinberg SM, Collins J, Doroshow JH, Kummar S. Cancer Chemoth Pharm. 2013 Feb 13.
- Development and validation of an immunoassay for quantification of topoisomerase I in solid tumor tissues. Pfister TD, Hollingshead M, Kinders RJ, Zhang Y, Evrard YA, Ji J, Khin SA, Borgel S, Stotler H, Carter J, Divelbiss R, Kummar S, Pommier Y, Parchment RE, Tomaszewski JE, Doroshow JH. PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e50494. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050494. Epub 2012 Dec 28. PMID: 23284638
- NANOG modulates stemness in human colorectal cancer. Zhang J, Espinoza LA, Kinders RJ, Lawrence SM, Pfister TD, Zhou M, Veenstra TD, Thorgeirsson SS, Jessup JM. Oncogene. 2012 Oct 22. doi: 10.1038/onc.2012.461. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23085761
- Exon array analyses across the NCI-60 reveal potential regulation of TOP1 by transcription pausing at guanosine quartets in the first intron. Reinhold WC, Mergny JL, Liu H, Ryan M, Pfister TD, Kinders R, Parchment R, Doroshow J, Weinstein JN, Pommier Y. Cancer Res. 2010 Mar 15; 70(6):2191-203. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-3528. Epub 2010 Mar 9. PMID: 20215517
- Monitoring drug-induced gammaH2AX as a pharmacodynamic biomarker in individual circulating tumor cells. Wang LH, Pfister TD, Parchment RE, Kummar S, Rubinstein L, Evrard YA, Gutierrez ME, Murgo AJ, Tomaszewski JE, Doroshow JH, Kinders RJ. Clin Cancer Res. 2010 Feb 1;16(3):1073-84. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-09-2799. Epub 2010 Jan 26. PMID: 20103672
- Topoisomerase I levels in the NCI-60 cancer cell line panel determined by validated ELISA and microarray analysis and correlation with indenoisoquinoline sensitivity. Pfister TD, Reinhold WC, Agama K, Gupta S, Khin SA, Kinders RJ, Parchment RE, Tomaszewski JE, Doroshow JH, Pommier Y. Mol Cancer Ther. 2009 Jul;8(7):1878-84. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-09-0016. Epub 2009 Jul 7. PMID: 19584232
- Kinetic and crystallographic studies of a redesigned manganese-binding site in cytochrome c peroxidase. Pfister TD, Mirarefi AY, Gengenbach AJ, Zhao X, Danstrom C, Conatser N, Gao YG, Robinson H, Zukoski CF, Wang AH, Lu Y. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2007 Jan; 12(1):126-37. Epub 2006 Oct 5. PMID: 17021923
- Responses of protein phosphatases and cAMP-dependent protein kinase in a freeze-avoiding insect, Epiblema scudderiana. Pfister TD, Storey KB.Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2006 May;62(1):43-54. PMID: 16612809
- Insect freeze tolerance: Roles of protein phosphatases and protein kinase A. Pfister TD, Storey KB. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2006 Jan;36(1):18-24. Epub 2005 Oct 28. PMID: 16360946
- Hopping in the electron-transfer photocycle of the 1:1 complex of Zn-cytochrome c peroxidase with cytochrome c. Seifert JL, Pfister TD, Nocek JM, Lu Y, Hoffman BM. J Am Chem Soc. 2005 Apr 27; 127(16):5750-1. PMID: 15839648
- Monooxygenation of an aromatic ring by F43W/H64D/V68I myoglobin mutant and hydrogen peroxide. Myoglobin mutants as a model for P450 hydroxylation chemistry. Pfister TD, Ohki T, Ueno T, Hara I, Adachi S, Makino Y, Ueyama N, Lu Y, Watanabe Y. J Biol Chem. 2005 Apr 1; 280(13):12858-66. Epub 2005 Jan 21. PMID: 15664991
- A site-selective dual anchoring strategy for artificial metalloprotein design. Carey JR, Ma SK, Pfister TD, Garner DK, Kim HK, Abramite JA, Wang Z, Guo Z, Lu Y. J Am Chem Soc. 2004 Sep 8; 126(35):10812-3. PMID: 15339144
- Resonance Raman spectroscopy of cytochrome c peroxidase variants that mimic manganese peroxidase. Feng M, Tachikawa H, Wang X, Pfister TD, Gengenbach AJ, Lu Y. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2003 Sep; 8(7):699-706. Epub 2003 Jul 9. PMID: 14505074
- Neutral thiol as a proximal ligand to ferrous heme iron: implications for heme proteins that lose cysteine thiolate ligation on reduction. Perera R, Sono M, Sigman JA, Pfister TD, Lu Y, Dawson JH. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Apr 1; 100(7):3641-6. Epub 2003 Mar 24.
- Protein kinase A: purification and characterization of the enzyme from two cold-hardy goldenrod gall insects. Pfister TD, Storey KB. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2002 May; 32(5):505-15. PMID: 11891127
- Purification and characterization of protein phosphatase-1 from two cold-hardy goldenrod gall insects. Pfister TD, Storey KB. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2002 Jan; 49(1):56-64. PMID: 11754094
- The role of redox-active amino acids on compound I stability, substrate oxidation, and protein cross-linking in yeast cytochrome c peroxidase. Pfister TD, Gengenbach AJ, Syn S, Lu Y. Biochemistry. 2001 Dec 11; 40(49):14942-51.PMID: 11732914
- Engineering novel metalloproteins: design of metal-binding sites into native protein scaffolds. Lu Y, Berry SM, Pfister TD. Chem Rev. 2001 Oct; 101(10):3047-80. Review. PMID: 11710062