Department of microbiology and molecular genetics
Faculty profile
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Sandra Hilliker Center for Molecular Biology & Gene Therapy |
- PhD - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1974
- MBA - University of California, Riverside, 1990
- Postdoctoral Fellow: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Loma Linda University
- Current research interests
- Recent publications
- Teaching
As the full-time biotechnology officer for the Center for Molecular Biology & Gene Therapy, I support its research development and technology transfer activities. Thus, my current research interests are those of the Center's investigators (who have faculty appointments in this and other departments). The Center is currently answering important questions about cancer, nerve injury, and infectious and autoimmune disease through molecular-based strategies and multidisciplinary techniques.
My own research interests began with basic research at federal and academic research institutions (1969-1982). This led to my becoming an NIH-funded principal investigator and establishing my own laboratory at a university. My research team studied the mechanisms of gene regulation in related temperate bacteriophages of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. With the emergence of biotechnology as an industry, my interests evolved into doing applied research at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies (1982-1988). I designed strategies for producing large amounts of mammalian proteins in recombinant yeast and bacteria -- some of which were patented.
These experiences led to a new career goal of helping other investigators obtain extramural research support and of facilitating interactions with companies interested in developing products from university research inventions. To help achieve this goal, I completed an MBA at the University of California, Riverside (1998-1990). There I learned to do another kind of research - marketing research. Subsequently, I became acquainted with the biomedical research programs at Loma Linda University and the affiliated Jerry L. Pettis VA Medical Center as a postdoctoral fellow/research associate (1991-94). I was given the opportunity to join the administrative staff of the Center when it opened its doors in 1993-94.
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Arakawa, T., Chong, D.K.X., Slattery, C.W., Hilliker, S., and Langridge, W.H.R. (1998) Food plant-derived human milk proteins for improved nutrition. AgBiotech News and Information 10: 103N-110N.
Green, L.M., Lazarus, J.P., Song, X., Stagg, R.B., LaBue, M., and Hilliker,
S. (1997) Elevation of protein kinase C in thyrocytes isolated from a Lewis rat
model of autoimmune thyroiditis prevents assembly of connexin43 gap junctions
and reduces intercellular communication. Thyroid 7: 913-921.
Hilliker, S., Wergedal, J., Gruber, H.E., Bettica, P., and Baylink, D.J.
(1996) Truncation of the amino terminus of PTH alters its anabolic activity on
bone in vivo. Bone 19: 469-77.
Dr. Hansel Fletcher and I teach a series of scientific communication workshops for PhD and research MS graduate students in this department. First year students attend approximately four scientific communication workshops each quarter to develop their written, verbal, and computer skills for more effective scientific communication. The capstone activity for the first year is the writing and oral presentation of a research paper to the department's faculty, staff, and students. Second year students receive one additional scientific communication workshop as preparation for the writing of an NIH-style research proposal for their thesis project.
In addition, I provide career development workshops for the department's graduate students who seek employment in the biotechnology industry. Our department's students also have the opportunity to join the Biotechnology Interest Group (BIG), whose membership spans all science departments at Loma Linda University. BIG members not only share information and participate in activities on this campus, but also share in the activities of similar student groups at nearby universities in Southern California. Last year BIG members attended seminars by industry scientists and a career fair associated with the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Participation in these career development activities helped both a MS graduate and a PhD graduate of this department find employment in California's biotechnology industry.
School of Medicine - Graduate School - Loma Linda University
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