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Juan C. Sanchez-Arias, MD, PhD
Trained as medical doctor and neuroscientist, I use my expertise in neurobiology, computational biology, and experimental design to magnify the impact of BenchSci’s platform and mission to empower scientists to improve the speed and quality of preclinical research with the most advanced biomedical AI.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience
University of Victoria - Division of Medical Sciences
Victoria, BC, Canada
2020 - 2015
- Dissertation: Pannexin 1 regulates dendritic spine formation.
- Relevant coursework: Developmental neurobiology, Tools for the study of ion channels.
- GPA: 8.2/9.0.
Doctor of Medicine (Médico y Cirujano)
Universidad del Valle - School of Medicine
Cali, Valle, Colombia
2014 - 2007
- Pre-Diploma Rotatory Internship: Hospital Universitario del Valle ESE ‑ Universidad del Valle. Cali, Valle. Colombia.
- Research Internship: Centro de Estudios Cerebrales (Centre for Brain Studies). Universidad del Valle. Cali, Valle. Colombia.
- Observership: Functional Neurosurgery. Department of Neurosurgery. University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. University of Illinois at Chicago. Chicago, IL. USA. Supervisor: Dr. Konstantin Slavin.
- Professional elective: Neurosurgery and Neurocritical Care. Department of Neurosurgery.Hospital Universitario del Valle ESE ‑ Universidad del Valle. Cali, Valle. Colombia.
- Relevant Coursework: Functional Neuroanatomy, Cerebral cortex cytoarchitectonics, Scientific Integrity, Biostatistics, Toxicology & Pharmacodependence, Systems Pathology. GPA: 4.4/5.0
Industry Experience
Scientific Associate (Experimental Data)
BenchSci
Remote
Current - 2022
- Envision and evaluate features to improve BenchSci’s platform and future roadmap using scientific insights.
- Work in collaboration with Product and Engineering teams to magnify the impact and applications of BenchSci’s platform.
- Work in collaboration with R&D to improve the data processing cycle within BenchSci’s platform.
Research Experience
Postdoctoral Fellow
Division of Medical Sciences
University of Victoria
2022 - 2020
- Advisors: Leigh Anne Swayne, PhD; Laura Arbour MSc, MD,
- Area of study: ankyrin adapter proteins, ion channels, calcium and voltage dysregulation in cardiomyocytes and neurons with ankyrin variants.
- Community medical genetics in inherited arrhythmias.
- Cardiomyocyte and neuronal calcium homeostasis
- Bioinformatics and computational modelling of cardiomyocyte physiology.
Graduate Research Assistant
Division of Medical Sciences
University of Victoria
2020 - 2015
- Advisor: Leigh Anne Swayne, PhD.
- Area of study: Pannexin 1 channels, dendritic spine plasticity, synapse formation, channel trafficking, neuronal cytoskeleton dynamics, neural stem cells, advanced microscopy for cell biology.
- Generated conditional and conditional‑inducible knockout models for the study of cerebral cortex development.
- Optimized protocols to generate primary neuronal cultures from neonatal mice suitable for network analysis.
- Developed methods to visualize dendritic spines and filopodia in tissue sections and living primary neurons.
Research Medical Intern
Centro de Estudios Cerebrales
Universidad del Valle
2014 - 2013
- Advisors: Martha Escobar, MSc; Hernán Pimienta, MSc, Efrain Buritica, PhD.
- Area of study: functional neuroanatomy, cerebral cortex organization, traumatic brain injury, stroke, neuroprotection.
- Performed carotid ligation in Wistar rats using microsurgery techniques.
- Investigated diffuse traumatic brain injury using a weight-drop model, organotypic rat rain brain slices. fluorescent immunochemistry and microscopy.
Undergraduate Medical Researcher
School of Public Health
Universidad del Valle
2011 - 2010
- Advisors: Enrique A. Estevez, MD and Elsa P. Muñoz, MD, MPH
- Area of study: Cardiovascular risk factor assessment in spinal cord injured patient assisting to a tertiary‑level hospital.
- Prepared a research project proposal, liaised with ethical boards, and established a network of collaborators to complete a standardized and regional survey in cardiovascular health.
- Led data management and prepared reports and presentations to share project results in local and national meetings.
- Contributed to the assessment and management of patients with chronic spinal cord injury, including prescribing rehabilitation plans and ordering of radiological and laboratory ancillary tests. Discussed cases with Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation attendings and residents.
Research interests
Translational research
Bio-image analysis
Neuronal and cardiac physiology
Bioinformatics
Clinical genetics
Open science.
Teaching philosophy
I strive to foster an active learning and respectful environment for students in which each student has equal opportunity to exchange ideas and ask questions. I believe that discussing ideas is key for developing critical thinking, communication skills, and an inquisitive mind; while providing immediate feedback on students’ understanding of the discussed topic.
Society memberships
Canadian Society for Molecular Bioscience
Canadian Cardiovascular Society
Canadian Association of Neuroscience
Society for Neuroscience
Colegio Colombiano de Neurociencias - COLNE
Teaching Experience
Foundations of Medical Practice I and II
Island Medical Program
University of Victoria
2020 - 2017
- Courses: MEDD412 (Year 1), MEDD421 (Year 2), MEDD422 (Year 2).
- TA for Neuroanatomy Bootcamp and Laboratories.
- Subjects: Cranial Nerves V & VII and Pain, Eye Movements and Brainstem, Cerebral Cortex, Functional Areas, and Blood Supply, Control of Movement and Cerebellum, Limbic System/Dementia
Service & Leadership
Who Can Become a Scientist?
Co-founder and Co-organizer
University of Victoria
Current - 2021
- “Who can become a scientist?” is a symposium for a high school age audience that discusses equity, diversity, and inclusion issues in science.
- It reflects on the stereotypical image of scientists and the importance of leveraging support from role models and mentors to increase diversity in STEM.
Let’s Talk Science
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC, Canada
2022 - 2018
- Contribute to Neuroscience Outreach talks and high school science excursions at the University of Victoria ‑ Division of Medical Sciences.
CIHR Brain Bee
Victoria Chapter
Victoria, BC, Canada
2022 - 2017
- Organize and coordinate social media for the Victoria Brain Bee. Mentored high school students from the Greater Victoria Area who participated in the Brain Bee competition
- Secure funding to sponsor Victoria Brain Bee winners traveling to the CIHR National Brain Bee.
Neuroscience Graduate Student Association (NGSA)
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC, Canada
2020 - 2017
- Student Representative ‑ Division of Medical Sciences 2017‑2018.
- Investigated diffuse traumatic brain injury using a weight-drop model, organotypic rat brain brain slices. fluorescent immunochemistry and microscopy.
Awards
Research Trainee Award
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
N/A
2024 - 2021
NB Gilula Star Award
International Gap Junction Conference
N/A
2019 - 2019
- Star Award and lecture for top-ranked abstracts.
John & Myrtle Tilley Graduate Scholarship
University of Victoria - Faculty of Graduate Studies
N/A
2019 - 2019
Vera Allen Travel Award for Medical Sciences,
University of Victoria - Faculty of Graduate Studies
N/A
2019 - 2016
James A. & Laurette Agnew Memorial Scholarship & Award
University of Victoria - Faculty of Graduate Studies
N/A
2019 - 2015
BC Regenerative Medicine Travel Award
BC Regenerative Medicine Network
N/A
2018 - 2018
Donald Wagg Graduate Scholarship
University of Victoria - Faculty of Graduate Studies
N/A
2018 - 2017
University of Victoria Graduate Award
University of Victoria - Faculty of Graduate Studies
N/A
2017 - 2015
University of Victoria Student Travel Grant
University of Victoria - Faculty of Graduate Studies
N/A
2016 - 2016
University of Victoria Fellowship Entrance Award
University of Victoria - Faculty of Graduate Studies
N/A
2015 - 2015
School of Medicine Dean’s List
Universidad del Valle ‑ School of Medicine
N/A
2014 - 2007
- Years awarded: 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014
Valle del Cauca Public High School Academic Excellence Scholarship
Infivalle-Colombia
N/A
2007 - 2006
Publications
A systematic, open‑science framework for quantification of cell‑types in mouse brain sections using fluorescence microscopy
Frontiers in Neuroanatomy
N/A
2021 - 2021
- Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Michael Carrier, Simona D. Frederiksen, Olga Shevtsova, Chloe Mckee, Emma van der Slagt, Elisa Gonçalves De Andrade, Hai Lam Nguyen, Penelope A. Young, Marie‑Ève Tremblay, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.722443.
- Type: Original research article.
Purinergic signaling in nervous system health & disease: Focus on pannexin 1
Pharmacology & Therapeutics
N/A
2021 - 2021
- Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Emma Slagt, Haley A. Vecchiarelli, Rebecca C. Candlish, Nicole York, Penelope A. Young, Olga Shevtsova, Afnan Juma, Marie‑Ève Tremblay, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107840.
- Type: Review article.
ATP Triggers Macropinocytosis That Internalizes and Is Regulated by PANX1
bioRxiv
N/A
2020 - 2020
- Andrew K. J. Boyce, Emma Slagt, Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1101/2020.11.19.389072.
- Type: Original research article.
Pannexin 1 Regulates Dendritic Protrusion Dynamics in Immature Cortical Neurons
eNeuro
N/A
2020 - 2020
- Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Rebecca C. Candlish, Emma Slagt, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0079-20.2020.
- Type: Original research article.
PANX1 in Inflammation Heats up: New Mechanistic Insights with Implications for Injury and Infection
Cell Calcium
N/A
2020 - 2020
- Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Leigh E. Wicki‑Stordeur, Rebecca C. Candlish, Emma Slagt, Irina Paci, Praveen P. N. Rao, Brian A. MacVicar, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2020.102253.
- Type: Review article.
Consideration of Pannexin 1 Channels in COVID‑19 Pathology and Treatment
American Journal of Physiology‑Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
N/A
2020 - 2020
- Leigh Anne Swayne, Scott R. Johnstone, Chen Seng Ng, Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Miranda E. Good, Silvia Penuela, Alexander W. Lohman, Abigail G. Wolpe, Victor E. Laubach, Michael Koval, Brant E. Isakson.
- DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00146.2020.
- Type: Perspective article.
Ankyrin‑B p.S646F undergoes increased proteasome degradation and reduces cell viability in the H9c2 rat ventricular cardiomyoblast cell line
Biochemistry & Cell Biology
N/A
2020 - 2020
- Lena Chen, Catherine S. W. Choi, Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Laura T. Arbour, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2019-0082.
- Type: Original research article.
Ankyrin B and Ankyrin B variants differentially modulate intracellular and surface Cav2.1 levels
Molecular Brain
N/A
2020 - 2020
- Catherine S. W. Choi, Ivana A. Souza, Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Gerald W. Zamponi, Laura T. Arbour, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1186/s13041-019-0494-8.
- Type: Original research article.
A novel motif in the proximal C‑terminus of Pannexin 1 regulates cell surface localization
Scientific Reports
N/A
2019 - 2019
- Anna L. Epp, Sarah N. Ebert, Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Leigh E. Wicki‑Stordeur, Andrew K. J. Boyce, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46144-5.
- Type: Original research article.
Exploring the Pannexin 1 interactome: In silico cross‑analyses with postsynaptic proteins and neuropsychiatric disorder susceptibility genes
bioRxiv
N/A
2019 - 2019
- Simona D. Frederiksen, Leigh E. Wicki‑Stordeur, Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1101/801563.
- Type: Original research article.
Pannexin 1 Regulates Network Ensembles and Dendritic Spine Development in Cortical Neurons
eNeuro
N/A
2019 - 2019
- Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Mei Liu, Catherine S. W. Choi, Sarah N. Ebert, Craig E. Brown, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0503-18.2019.
- Type: Original research article.
Probenecid Disrupts a Novel Pannexin 1‑Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 2 Interaction and Increases Microtubule Stability
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
N/A
2018 - 2018
- Xiaoxue Xu, Leigh E. Wicki‑Stordeur, Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Mei Liu, Maria S. Weaver, Catherine S. W. Choi, Leigh A. Swayne.
- DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00124.
- Type: Original research article.
Upregulation of inflammatory mediators in the ventricular zone after cortical stroke
PROTEOMICS - Clinical Applications
N/A
2017 - 2017
- Adrianna N. Gunton, Juan C. Sanchez-Arias, Esther O. Carmona‑Wagner, Leigh E. Wicki‑Stordeur, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1002/prca.201600092.
- Type: Original research article.
Perspectives on the role of Pannexin 1 in neural precursor cell biology
Neural Regeneration Research
N/A
2016 - 2016
- Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Leigh E. Wicki‑Stordeur, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.193221.
- Type: Review article.
What Are Neural Stem Cells, and Why Are They Important?
Frontiers for Young Kids
N/A
2016 - 2016
- Leigh Anne Swayne, Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Agbay Andrew, Stephanie M. Willerth.
- DOI: 10.3389/frym.2016.00020.
- Type: Review article.
Pannexin 1 Differentially Affects Neural Precursor Cell Maintenance in the Ventricular Zone and Peri‑Infarct Cortex
Journal of Neuroscience
N/A
2016 - 2016
- Leigh E. Wicki‑Stordeur, Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, J. Dhaliwal, Esther O. Carmona‑Wagner, Valery I. Shestopalov, Diane C. Lagace, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0436-15.2016.
- Type: Original research article.
”Any man could, if he were so inclined, be the sculptor of his own brain.” Santiago Ramón y Cajal
Datasets
PFIA ‑ Pipeline for Image Analysis of Cell Density in Mouse Brain Sections
Scholars Portal Dataverse
N/A
2021 - 2021
- Juan C. Sanchez‑Arias, Michael Carrier, Simona D. Frederiksen, Olga Shevtsova, Chloe Mckee, Emma van der Slagt, Elisa Gonçalves De Andrade, Hai Lam Nguyen, Penelope A. Young, Marie‑Ève Tremblay, Leigh Anne Swayne.
- DOI: 10.5683/SP2/KRGFTC
- Test Image Files and Associated Scripts
Other education
Curso Introductorio en Epidemiologia Genetica y Epigenetica
Universidad del Valle - School of Public Health
Virtual
2022 - 2022
- Two-week introductory course on Genetic Epidemiology and Epigenetics.
CodeinPlace 2021
Stanford University
Virtual
2021 - 2021
- 5-week introductory online Python programming course based on material from the first half of Stanford’s introductory programming course, CS106A
- Project Showcase #153: BrainBeez