Expert genomicist having 10+ years experience in rare genetic diseases and precision oncology. Accomplished technical supervisor, NGS clinical reporting for ~4100 clinical cases. Demonstrated competence in orchestrating interdisciplinary team of scientific experts (bioinformatics, AI, and software development) in fulfilling project objectives. Technical capacities and versatile roles: Genomic data analyst, Project planning and management, Team building and training, Techno-Commercial, Sales and Strategy, scientific engagements.
Hi, I’m
Chandru Jayasankaran
Personalized Healthcare Partner- Genomics
B108, DS MAX SPARKLE NEST Apartments, Nava Jothi Street, K.Narayanapura, Kothanur, Bengaluru
Summary
Overview
10
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Work History
Roche Products India Pvt LtdBangalore
Personalized Healthcare Partner - Cancer Genomics
08.2022 - Current
Job overview
- Established regional molecular tumor board through Medical Oncologists association in Bangalore for leveraging precision oncology practice among HCPs.
- Pivotal in setting up implementation protocol for precision health clinic in leading Oncology Chain of Hospital
- Project lead for strategic educational initiatives for Medical oncologists and Pathologists on precision oncology
- Conceptualized and organized 5 precision oncology scientific meetings, emphasizing role for comprehensive genomic profiling in matching targeted treatments.
- Subject Matter Expert for Molecular Genetics and assisted Medical oncologists in interpreting genomic reports.
- Counseled patients (pre-test) on importance of doing comprehensive genomic profiling in cancer treatment journey
LifeBytes IndiaBengaluru
Project Manager, Rare Disease Genomics
10.2020 - 07.2022
Job overview
- Accomplished accreditation compliant setup for clinical variant analysis for rare disease project.
- Led team-building efforts by conducting technical interviews and recruitment for clinical variant analysts.
- Effectively planned and set realistic goals to meet Rare Disease Genetics project deliverables and milestones
- Trained them in curation of gene-disease panels, and NGS variant analysis processes.
- Effectively designed and implemented intense training plan on exome variant analysis and interpretation as per ACMG guidelines.
- Reviewed gene curation for 760 rare genetic disorders and its diagnostic utility using exome sequencing assay.
- Prepared SOPs, training plans, policies, analytical validation, and clinical validity documents for NGS analysis operations.
- Developed templates for test requisition form (TRF), and genomic clinical reporting
- Orchestrated interactions with bioinformatics, AI, and software development team in building resource tools for curating genetic data, variant ranking, and web applications.
MedGenome Labs LimitedBengaluru
Senior Manager, Technical Support
05.2020 - 09.2020
Job overview
- Effectively resolved technical queries from clinicians, scientific affairs, clinical geneticists and genetic counselors on NGS and other diagnostic assays.
- Headed team of 6 genome analysts, and trained them in various processes including genetic test recommendations, re-analysis of NGS data, curation, gene panel design and clinical reporting activities.
- Consistently demonstrated and scored concordance in CAP competency assessment and proficiency testing activities in germline variant analysis and interpretation.
- Worked under supervision of CEO and diagnostics director, communicated operational gaps effectively for improvising processes and efficiency.
- Liaised with customer support and technical teams (bioinformatics, oncology, germline, microarray, cytogenetics/FISH, IHC, MLPA and NIPT teams for technical queries) to ensure prompt client support.
- Provided technical support to sales, and marketing team in fulfilling client requirement.
- Ensured compliance with QA, SOPs and regulatory guidelines for technical support division.
MedGenome Labs LimitedBengaluru
Project Manager | Lead Genome Analyst
09.2018 - 05.2020
Job overview
- Delivered exceptional performance in meeting turn around time for reports with given resource and time by meticulous planning and execution.
- Enthusiastically led team of 8 analysts and improved efficiency, quality and policy compliant clinical reporting.
- Accomplished qualitative clinical reporting for ~4000 patients NGS data from perspective of affected, carrier screening, mitochondrial and trios.
- Demonstrated senior analyst competency and proficiency in CAP educational and diagnostic challenge activities.
- Supervised disease panel segments (cardiology, endocrine, ENT, metabolic disorders, nephrology, neurology, ocular genetics and mitochondrial genome analysis) in compliance to ACMG interpretation.
- Maintained low attrition rate by meticulously handling MIS for making data-driven decisions
- Subject matter expert: provided technical input and requirements for developing and testing mitochondrial variant analysis and reporting software.
- Periodically updated SOPs, Policy documents of NGS reporting.
- Effectively liaised three departments (Genome analysts, bioinformatics and software development team) that led to improved technical and operational workflows in NGS clinical reporting.
- Effectively discussed genetic test results to clinicians upon technical query.
MedGenome Labs LimitedBengaluru
Senior Genome Analyst
10.2017 - 08.2018
Job overview
- Demonstrated decision making ability in exome variant reporting, compliant to SOPs and policies.
- Demonstrated competence in ACMG based variant interpretation for ~200 patient data.
- Handled complex genetic cases and effectively interpreted variants using multitude of open source databases and genome browsers.
Education
University of MadrasChennai
Ph.D. from Biomedical Genetics
01-2017
University Overview
- Awarded PhD in Biomedical genetics for work on "Genetic analysis and Protein Modeling of SLC26A4 gene (Pendrin) related deafness among a special cohort of assortative mating families from South India".
- Awarded UGC Basic Scientific Research Fellowship for 5 years.
- Project fellow - ICMR funded project "Screening for a spectrum of mutations in the nuclear genome (GJB2, GJB6, SLC26A4, CDH23, TMC1 and USH1C) causing Hereditary Hearing Loss among a special cohort of hearing impaired matings".
- Project fellow - UGC funded “Study of Connexin-26 Mutations among the Hearing Impaired matings”.
Loyola CollegeChennai, TN
Master of Science from Biotechnology
05-2010
University Overview
- Accomplished pre-doctoral dissertation on “Screening for deafness causing mitochondrial mutations and Connexin mutation among the hearing impaired matings from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.”
- Adopted challenging sign language communication explaining importance of genetic testing and post-test counseling to hearing impaired couples.
Loyola CollegeChennai, TN
Bachelor of Science from Plant Biology And Biotechnology
05-2008
University Overview
Skills
- Ul>
- Clinical Genomics Project Management
- P>Bioinformatics tools, and genome browsers
- P>ACMG-AMP variant classification
- P>Evidence based gene, variant curation and interpretation
- P>Precision oncology tools and annotation
- P>Scientific strategy and techno-commercial
- P>MS excel, and power automate
- P>Interpret protein sequence and structure databases
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
- Techno-Commercial acumen
- Entrepreneurial thinking
- Leadership and Communication skills
- Technical capabilities and Problem solving
- Commitment to excellence
- Team building and performance management
Certification
S. Narasimhan et al., “Audiometric notch as a sign of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) among the rice and market flour mill workers in Tamil Nadu, South India,” Hear. Balanc. Commun., pp. 1–11, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.1080/21695717.2021.1989249
P. Vanniya. S et al., “PNPT1 , MYO15A , PTPRQ , and SLC12A2 ‐associated genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity among hearing impaired assortative mating families in Southern India,” Ann. Hum. Genet., vol. 86, no. 1, pp. 1–13, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1111/ahg.12442
N. D. Gunasekaran, C. Jayasankaran, J. Justin Margret, M. Krishnamoorthy, and C. R. S. Srisailapathy, “Evaluation of recurrent GNPTAB , GNPTG , and NAGPA variants associated with stuttering,” Adv. Genet., vol. 2, no. 2, Jun. 2021, doi: 10.1002/ggn2.10043.
M. KALAIMATHI et al., “Low incidence of GIPC3 variants among the prelingual hearing impaired from southern India,” J. Genet., vol. 99, no. 1, p. 74, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.1007/s12041-020-01234-6.
J. Chandru et al., “Genetic analysis of SLC26A4 gene (pendrin) related deafness among a cohort of assortative mating families from southern India,” Eur. Arch. Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, vol. 277, no. 11, pp. 3021–3035, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.1007/s00405-020-06026-3.
P. Amritkumar et al., “Role of DFNB1 mutations in hereditary hearing loss among assortative mating hearing impaired families from South India,” BMC Med. Genet., vol. 19, no. 1, p. 105, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.1186/s12881-018-0609-6.
J. M. Jeffrey et al., “Exclusion of putative CATSPER2 and STRC gene deletion and FOXI1 gene mutations in a unique cohort with sensorineural deafness and male infertility from south India,” Curr. Sci., vol. 114, no. 12, pp. 2538–2542, 2018, doi: 10.18520/cs/v114/i12/2538-2542.
P. Vanniya S et al., “Recurrence of reported CDH23 mutations causing DFNB12 in a special cohort of South Indian hearing impaired assortative mating families – an evaluation,” Ann. Hum. Genet., vol. 82, no. 2, pp. 119–126, Mar. 2018, doi: 10.1111/ahg.12228.
A. Pavithra, J. Chandru, J. M. Jeffrey, N. P. Karthikeyen, and C. R. S. Srisailapathy, “Rare compound heterozygosity involving dominant and recessive mutations of GJB2 gene in an assortative mating hearing impaired Indian family,” Eur. Arch. Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, vol. 274, no. 1, pp. 119–125, Jan. 2017, doi: 10.1007/s00405-016-4229-5.
A. PAVITHRA, J. M. JEFFREY, J. CHANDRU, A. RAMESH, and C. R. SRIKUMARI SRISAILAPATHY, “High incidence of GJB2 gene mutations among assortatively mating hearing impaired families in Kerala: future implications,” J. Genet., vol. 93, no. 1, pp. 207–213, Apr. 2014, doi: 10.1007/s12041-014-0338-3.
S. Narasimhan, C. Jayasankaran, R. Rajagopalan, and C. R. S. Srisailapathy, “The Public Health Significance and Issues Related to Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: The Indian Scenario,” Glob. Public Heal. Conf. 2014, p. 264, 2014.
A. Pavithra et al., “Is Screening for Mitochondrial A1555G Mutation among Assortative Mating Hearing Impaired Families Important?: A Prefatory Quest,” Res. Otolaryngol., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1–7, 2014, doi: 10.5923/j.otolaryn.20140301.01.
Additional Information
Additional Information
- 2016 - Indian Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting and International Conference
- 2015 - Genetic Diseases: From Mendelian to Malignancies
- 2013 - Genetic Counseling and Gene testing
- 2012 - International Symposium on Developmental & Complex Disorders & 38th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of human Genetics: Genomics and Community Health. [Presented Research Poster]
- 2011 - Gave a talk titled "Mutations and its implications on disease phenotype" at The Spastics society of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, India
Timeline
Personalized Healthcare Partner - Cancer Genomics
Roche Products India Pvt Ltd
08.2022 - Current
Project Manager, Rare Disease Genomics
LifeBytes India
10.2020 - 07.2022
Senior Manager, Technical Support
MedGenome Labs Limited
05.2020 - 09.2020
Project Manager | Lead Genome Analyst
MedGenome Labs Limited
09.2018 - 05.2020
Senior Genome Analyst
MedGenome Labs Limited
10.2017 - 08.2018
University of Madras
Ph.D. from Biomedical Genetics
Loyola College
Master of Science from Biotechnology
Loyola College
Bachelor of Science from Plant Biology And Biotechnology