James C. Osborne, PhD
The Robert E. Finnigan Professor of Applied Life Sciences, Director of the Center for Biomarker Research, and Focus Track Champion – Medical Devices and DiagnosticsProtein Biochemistry, Protein Structure, Enzymology, Capillary Electrophoresis, DNA Arrays, Diagnostic Applications, Laboratory Automation
Dr. Osborne earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in chemistry from the University of Maryland in Baltimore County and his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore. From 1974 to 1985, Dr. Osborne investigated cholesterol transport and lipid metabolism as a staff member of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. He joined Beckman Instruments in 1985 as manager of Applications and Centrifuge Research. He was named Director of Research and Applications in 1987 and was appointed Vice President in 1992. From 1992 to 1996, he served as Vice President and Director of Advanced Chemistry and DNA Analysis and had responsibility for the Beckman Center of Advanced Capillary Electrophoresis, in addition to various analytical and specific chemistries. In 1998, he became Corporate Vice President of Advanced Technology. In 2008, Dr. Osborne transitioned back into academia by joining the faculty of KGI founding the Center for Biomarker Research.
Dr. Osborne is the author of numerous articles and book chapters on protein biophysical chemistry, lipoprotein metabolism and enzymology and has four patents on capillary electrophoresis and DNA sequencing. He is a member of The Protein Society, the American Chemical Society, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Association of Clinical Chemists. He serves on the board of the Beckman Coulter Foundation.
This course examines the role of genes, proteins and RNA in causing or combating diseases, and emphasizes the current conceptual and analytical tools that are brought to bear, and their limitations, on our understanding.
This course is designed around four broad themes: effective writing, oral communications, teamwork and leadership. Classes will be a blend of interactive lectures, from faculty and industry executives, and workshops. Oral and written exercises will be coordinated with individual and team projects in ALS 320 and ALS 359, and students will participate in faculty and peer reviews to help each other improve professional skills.
This course covers emerging, high impact, and high growth rate areas of the in vitro diagnostics industry such as novel immunoassay formats, diagnostic applications of flow cytometry, molecular diagnostics and pharmaco-genomics, personalized medicine and drug diagnostic co-development, point of care diagnostics in developed countries and in global health / limited resource settings, as well as micro-fluidics and nano-technology in diagnostics.
Osborne JC, Miller JH, Kempner ES. "Molecular mass and volume in radiation target theory". Biophysical Journal 2000;78(4):1698-1702
Osborne JC, Jr. "Analysis of Peptide Hormones and Model Peptides by Capillary Elecrophoresis". In: Shintani H, Polonski J, editors. Handbook of Capiillary Electrophoresis Applications. 1 ed. Springer; 1997;(19)255-265
Kempner ES, Osborne JC, Reynolds LJ, Deems RA, Dennis EA. "Analysis of Lipases by Radiation Inactivation". Methods in Enzymology 1991;197:280-288
Jacobson PW, Wiesenfeld PW, Gallo LL, Tate RL, Osborne JC. "Sodium Cholate-Induced Changes in the Conformation and Activity of Rat Pancreatic Cholesterol Esterase". Journal of Biological Chemistry 1990;265(1):515-521
Steer CJ, Osborne JC, Kempner ES. "Functional and Physical Molecular-Size of the Chicken Hepatic Lectin Determined by Radiation Inactivation and Sedimentation Equilibrium-Analysis". Journal of Biological Chemistry 1990;265(7):3744-3749
Research Synopsis
At NIH, Dr. Osborne studied cholesterol transport and lipoprotein metabolism and investigated the hydrodynamic and enzymatic properties of apolipoproteins, choleragen, hepatic lipase, calmodulin and various other proteins and lipids. His research was aimed at understanding reversible homogenous and heterogeneous interactions between proteins and involved analytical ultracentrifuge and circular dichroic studies. During his tenure at Beckman Instruments, he directed research, development and commercialization of a new analytical ultracentrifuge, applications and attachments for robotic workstations, capillary electrophoresis instruments, DNA synthesis and sequencing systems, DNA and Immunoassay multiplex arrays, as well as numerous reagent kits for diagnostic testing.
Current Research Projects
Identification of Biomarker Panels for Diagnosis of Disease (Jim Osborne, Craig Adams): Biomarkers are measurable entities used to diagnose disease and monitor clinical responses to therapy. Many diseases are difficult to diagnose, and patients with the same diagnosis often respond differently to a given therapy. Most approved diagnostic tests are based on a single biomarker. The Center for Biomarker Research is investigating the use of biomarker panels to better diagnose disease and stratify patient populations for selection of therapy. Flow cytometry is a very powerful technique for measuring multiple markers on the surface and inside of cells. Nucleic acid and protein assays can also be multiplexed in a flow cytometer by designing assays on multicolored beads. Dr. Osborne and The Center for Biomarker Research are developing and validating protocols using multiplex flow cytometry to investigate biomarker panels for diseases that have good therapeutic options, but are difficult to diagnose.
Biomarker for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy (in collaboration with Dr. Daniel Darvish): Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathies (HIBM) are a diverse group of muscle wasting disorders that share similar histopathology with sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis and senile plaques seen in Alzheimer's brain disease. Various forms of HIBM are genetically and clinically diverse, with the autosomal recessive form (IBM2) as the most common. It usually affects young adults and often leads to severe disability and confinement to a wheelchair. As in many rare disorders, for IBM2 there is a known genetic mutation but the molecular basis of the disease is unknown. The Center for Biomarker Research is actively searching for IBM2 diagnostic biomarkers to monitor progression of the disease and measure the effectiveness of promising therapy currently in early clinical trials.
Biomarkers for diagnosing Chronic Kidney Disease (in collaboration with Dr. Farhan Bukhari): Management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has focused on treatment of specific kidney diseases and dialysis and transplantation for kidney failure. Although it is known that early intervention improves outcomes, current CKD biomarkers are not specific and are used primarily to diagnose late stage disease. The Center for Biomarker Research is investigating the use of vitamin transporter proteins to diagnose early stages of CKD and predict those patients who will progress to end stage renal failure.
Magic Syndrome: Magic Syndrome is a very rare disorder that presents as an overlap of Behcet's disease, with recurrent oral ulcers and chronic vascular disease, and Polychrondritis, with destruction of cartilage tissues. Although the syndrome is associated with specific HLA genetic mutations, there are no specific biomarkers to diagnose progression to late stage disease or predict relapse. The Center for Biomarker Research is exploring serum biomarkers that can be used monitor patients and stage effective therapy.
Future Research Interests
Dr. Osborne and The Center for Biomarker Research are looking for collaborators in industry, academia and other non-profit organizations to develop, validate and commercialize biomarker panels to better diagnose disease and select individualized therapy.
Contact Information
| James C. Osborne, PhD | ||
| Location: | Building 517, Room B224 | |
| Phone: | (909) 607-9476 | |
| jim_osborne[at symbol]kgi.edu | ||