We’d like to welcome our new Research Liaison and PURA Uncle, Jim Lagowski! Jim has been an instrumental part of the team so far in helping organize our Global Research Network Meeting at our annual conference, helping our board members understand some of the more scientific aspects of our Foundation, networking with other Rare Disease Organizations at the recent Global Genes conference and working with some of our PURA parents to establish a PURA Syndrome Clinicians Network. We have kept him very busy and are grateful for his contributions to the Foundation thus far. Enjoy reading his bio below and welcome, Jim!
Jim received his M.S. in Natural Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo while working at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and his B.S. in Biology, also in his hometown at SUNY Buffalo. Jim’s primary training is in molecular biology, beginning his 20+ year tenure at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon, USA. He worked “at the bench” in the Dermatology Research Division where he studied biochemical pathways involved in dermatological and head and neck cancers for more than 12 years. From there he moved on to the OHSU Knight BioLibrary; a university-wide human tissue biorepository, to set up and manage a small team which continues to support scientists who seek valuable specimens for their research.
Currently, Jim works in OHSU’s Technology Transfer Department as an Agreements Manager, where he negotiates agreements between OHSU scientists and their industry and academic partners, protecting their interests in new intellectual property and facilitating the ongoing and far-reaching collaborative environment at OHSU. Gardening, pinochle, camping, and tending to his animals Blue (horse), Jack (mutt), and Boba (St. Bernard) are a few things that occupy his time when away from the office.