As a medical writer, I offer you wide coverage of biomedical areas and a seasoned perspective that comes
from a broad background in multidisciplinary collaborative research, including actively cited, high-impact
publications that I authored, edited, prepared, or refereed for reputable peer-reviewed journals.
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• Served as medical writer with primary responsibility for content development across multiple disease areas including:
Asthma Atopic dermatitis Bacterial disorders Chronic heart failure Chronic idiopathic urticaria
COVID-19 Diabetes Epilepsy HIV Oncology
• Deliverables included:
♦ Abstracts ♦ Audio scripts ♦ Grants editing support ♦ Journal article content
♦ Newsletter articles ♦ Oral presentation slide decks ♦ Peer review support ♦ Posters
• Provided guidance for other medical writers
• Broke new ground in HIV/AIDS research
• Explored structure and mechanism of muscle myosin molecular motor for Ph. D. dissertation
• Studied pancreatic and cardiac electrophysiology for Masters dissertation
• Authored a variety of high-impact papers in leading peer-reviewed research journals
• Managed contributions of co-authors in collaborative interdisciplinary publications
• Rescued manuscripts of colleagues and transformed them into high-impact research journal articles
• Designed and presented symposium research seminars
• Collaborated with clinical biostatisticians, biochemists, computational chemists, molecular biologists, chemists, and others
• Recruited authors for a standard reference volume in structural biology and edited review articles
• Supervised a high-throughput protein crystallography team
• Coordinated the New York Structural Genomics Research Consortium (NYSGRC)
• Facilitated conflict resolution between the NYSGRC protein production and structure cores to maintain productivity
• Trained students and directed their research activities to further education
• Designed and taught a graduate-level course on FORTRAN structured programming for scientists
• Trained regulatory personnel in computer-aided analysis of clinical data
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• Developed manuscripts and congress deliverables for analyses of phase II and III clinical studies
• Collaborated on basic and applied research projects with Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer, Tibotec, and Schrödinger
• Edited International Tables for Crystallography, Volume F:
♦ Co-authored introduction ♦ recruited authors ♦ edited 47 articles ♦ reviewed 96 articles
• Made discoveries (via structural biology) leading to the ongoing development of new classes of anti-AIDS/HIV drugs
• Presented research results at seven international conferences in structural biology and infectious disease
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• Conducted widely cited Structure-Activity-Relationship (SAR) analysis of inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT)
• Determined the first structures for allosteric and active site RNase H inhibitors (RNHIs) bound to full-length RT
• Investigated the mechanism and regulation of myosin molecular motor activity for muscle contraction
• Pioneered industry-standard "Computer Aided New Drug Application" software for FDA end-users
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✓ Medical & scientific writing ✓ Tabulation of clinical data
✓ Manuscript, abstract, slide, and poster preparation ✓ Graphical representation of clinical data
✓ Literature searches for manuscripts & presentations ✓ Proficiency in Microsoft Word®, PowerPoint®, Excel®
✓ Audio script preparation for presentations ✓ Proficiency in EndNote®, PhotoShop®, Acrobat®
✓ Extensive interdisciplinary collaborative experience ✓ Operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OSX
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• Structural biology analysis for drug discovery • Strong computational skills
• Structure-Activity-Relationship (SAR) analysis • 3-D molecular modeling
• Structure determination by SAD phasing • Robotic optimization of protein crystallization
• Molecular replacement phasing with low model bias • X-ray data collection and processing
• MAD phasing experience • Computational chemistry analysis of protein-ligand complexes
• PCR, molecular coloning, and construct design • Induced-fit in silico ligand docking
• Protein expression & purification • Customization of structure refinement programming scripts
• Familiarity with molecular dynamics • Software coding and engineering experience
• Crystallographic software suites: Phenix, CNS, CCP4, Maestro/Schrödinger, HKL2000/HKL3000, Coot, and Pymol
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Open-Air Crystallization Plate Cooler, Patent No.: US 9995696 B2, Issued June 12, 2018
Freelance Medical Writer, 2023 - present
Himmel Sci Med Com, LLC
• Congress deliverables
• Grant proposal editing
• Research journal manuscripts
Senior Medical Writer, 2020 - 2022
Prime Global Medical Communications, Ltd
• Generated content for congress deliverables
★ Abstracts
★ Oral presentation slide decks
★ Audio/video scripts
★ Posters, including providing guidance on layout
• Generated content for journal manuscripts
• Prepared peer review responses
• Performed data quality control checks
• Managed review process in coordination with:
Editors ♦ Graphics team ♦ Client ♦ All authors
• Areas covered included:
★ Oncology
★ Infectious disease
Medical Writer, 2018 - 2019
Percolation Communications, LLC (a medical communications agency of Blue Ocean Pharma, LLC)
• Produced deliverables for internal pharmaceutical client use
• Prepared and edited manuscripts for publication:
★ Content development and improvement
★ Literature searches for textual citations
★ Tabulation of data and analysis
★ Graphical representation of clinical data
• Developed content from primary literature across multiple disease areas including:
★ Asthma
★ Atopic dermatitis
★ Chronic idiopathic urticaria
★ Chronic heart failure
★ Epilepsy
★ Type 2 diabetes
Senior Scientist in Structural Biology/Biochemistry, 2016 - 2017
Phelix Therapeutics, LLC
• Conducted protein expression
• Troubleshot and redesigned protein purification protocols for structure determination
• Crystallized protein for data collection
Structural Biology Associate, 2012 - 2015
New York Structural Genomics Research Consortium (NYSGRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Biochemistry Dept.
• Conducted PCR, protein expression & purification
• Determined crystal structures by molecular replacement and SAD phasing
• Coordinated activities of the New York Structural Genomics Research Consortium
• Supervised high-throughput protein crystallography, including robotic optimization of crystal conditions
• Robotic Hardware & Software Included:
♢ Art Robbins Gryphon and Phoenix
♢ Formulatrix Formulator and Rock Imager
♢ Formulatrix Rock Maker software
Co-editor, International Tables for Crystallography, Volume F, Second Edition, ©2011
International Union of Crystallography
• Served as primary editor of a standard reference resource for structural biologists
• Recruited leading scientists in structural biology and related fields
• Edited all review articles in consultation with the authors
• Authored introductory articles for Volume F
Structure-based Drug Design Crystallographer, 2001 - 2012
Eddy Arnold Lab, Center for Advanced Biotechnology & Medicine, Dept. of Chemistry & Chemical Biology,
Rutgers University
• Purified and crystallized HIV proteins
• Determined structures for protein-inhibitor complexes to help develop anti-AIDS lead compounds.
• Performed computational chemistry analysis, including induced-fit ligand docking experiments
• Collaborated with computational and organic chemists for structure determination and inhibitor design
• Collaborators included Schrödinger, Janssen-Cilag (Johnson & Johnson), Tibotec, and Pfizer
Protein Crystallographer, 1993 - 2001
Carolyn Cohen Lab, Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Brandeis University
• Designed and taught a graduate level course on FORTRAN structured programming for scientists
• Prepared and taught a biophysics course for non-science majors
• Crystallized proteins, flash-cooled crystals, and collected X-ray diffraction data
• Determined and analyzed myosin molecular motor structures
• Investigated the mechanism and regulation of myosin motor activity for muscle contraction
Senior Medical Programming Specialist, 1988 - 1991
Merck & Co., Inc., Clinical Information Systems, Biostatistics And Research Data Systems
• Pioneered industry-standard "Computer-Aided New Drug Application" biostatistical software
• Facilitated FDA approval of the drug Proscar
• Developed programs supporting other Merck products including: Fosamax, Mevacor, Zocor
• Computer Languages included: SAS, ORACLE/SQL
Ph.D., Biophysics and Structural Biology Brandeis University
Master of Science, Biochemistry/Biophysics University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor of Arts, Biochemistry Rutgers University/Cook College
Co-editor, International Tables for Crystallography, Volume F, Second Edition
Member, American Chemical Society
Member, American Crystallographic Association
Member, American Medical Writers Association
Member, International Society for Medical Publication Professionals
Member, International Union of Crystallography
NIH National Research Service Award, 2004-2006
Macromolecular Structure and Mechanism Training Grant, 1993 - 1995
Lewis KD et al. (2023) Final Analysis of Phase II Results with Cemiplimab in Metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma after
Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors. ESMO 35:221-228.
Kalinka E et al. (2022) Cemiplimab with Platinum-based Chemotherapy (chemo) for First-line (1L) Locally Advanced
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (laNSCLC): EMPOWER-Lung 3 Subgroup Analysis. Annals of Onc. 33(suppl_7):S438-S447
Himmel, D.M. and Arnold, E. (2020) Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Join Forces with
Integrase Inhibitors to Combat HIV. Pharmaceuticals 13:122-147. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/13/6/122
Himmel, D.M., Myshakina, N.S., Ilina, T., Van Ry, A., Ho, W.C., Parniak, M.A., and Arnold, E. (2014)
Structure of a Dihydroxycoumarin Active-Site Inhibitor in Complex with the RNase H Domain of HIV-1
Reverse Transcriptase and Structure-Activity Analysis of Inhibitor Analogs. J. Mol. Biol. 426:2617-2631.
Chung, S., Himmel, D.M., Jiang, J.K., Wojtak, K., Bauman, J.D., Rausch, J.W., Wilson, J.A., Beutler,
J.A., Thomas, C.J., Arnold, E. and Le Grice, S.F. (2011) Synthesis, Activity, and Structural Analysis of
Novel alpha-Hydroxytropolone Inhibitors of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Reverse Transcriptase-Associated
Ribonuclease H. J. Med. Chem. 54(13):4462-4473.
Felts, A.K., Labarge, K., Bauman, J.D., Patel, D.V., Himmel, D.M., Arnold, E., Parniak, M.A. and Levy, R.M.
(2011) Identification of Alternative Binding Sites for Inhibitors of HIV-1 Ribonuclease H Through Comparative
Analysis of Virtual Enrichment Studies. J. Chem. Inf. Model, 51:1986-1998.
*Himmel, D.M., Maegley, K.A., Pauly, T.A., Bauman, J.D., Das, K., Dharia, C., Clark, A.D., Jr., Ryan, K.,
Hickey, M.J., Love, R.A., Hughes, S.H., Bergqvist, S. and Arnold, E. (2009a) Structure of HIV-1 Reverse
Transcriptase with the Inhibitor β-Thujaplicinol Bound at the RNase H Active Site. Structure, 17:1625-1635.
Himmel, D.M., Mui, S., O'Neall-Hennessey, E., Szent-Györgyi, A.G. and Cohen, C. (2009b) The On-Off
Switch in Regulated Myosins: Different Triggers but Related Mechanisms. J. Mol. Biol. 394:496-505.
Sarafianos S.G., Marchand B, Das K, Himmel, D.M., Parniak M.A., Hughes S.H., Arnold E. (2009c)
Structure and Function of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase: Molecular Mechanisms of Polymerization and
Inhibition. J. Mol. Biol. 385(3):693-713.
Bauman, J.D., Das, K., Ho, W.C., Baweja, M., Himmel, D.M., Clark, A.D., Jr., Oren, D.A., Boyer, P.L.,
Hughes, S.H., Shatkin, A.J. and Arnold, E. (2008) Crystal Engineering of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase for
Structure-Based Drug Design. Nucleic Acids Res, 36:5083-5092.
Knight, J.L., Zhou, Z., Gallicchio, E., Himmel, D.M., Friesner, R.A., Arnold, E. and Levy, R.M. (2008)
Exploring Structural Variability in X-ray Crystallographic Models Using Protein Local Optimization by Torsion-Angle
Sampling. Acta Crystallogr. D Biol. Crystallogr., 64:383-396.
Yang, Y., Gourinath, S., Kovács, M., Nyitray, L., Reutzel, R., Himmel, D.M., O'Neal-Hennessey, E., Reshetnikova,
L., Szent-Györgyi, A. G., Brown, J.H., and Cohen, C. (2007) Rigor-like Structures from Muscle Myosins
Reveal Key Mechanical Elements in the Transduction Pathways of this Allosteric Motor. Structure 15:553-564.
*#Himmel, D.M., Sarafianos, S.G., Dharmasena, S., Hossain, M.M., McCoy-Simandle, K., Ilina, T., Clark, A.D., Jr.,
Knight, J.L., Julias, J.G., Clark, P.K., Krogh-Jespersen, K., Levy, R.M., Hughes, S.H., Parniak, M.A. and Arnold, E.
(2006) HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Structure with RNase H Inhibitor Dihydroxy Benzoyl Naphthyl Hydrazone
Bound at a Novel Site. ACS Chem. Biol., 1:702-712.
*Himmel, D.M., Das, K., Clark, A. D., Jr., Hughes, S. H., Benjahad, A., Oumouch, S., Guillemont, J., Coupa, S.,
Poncelet, A., Csoka, I., Meyer, C., Andries, K., Nguyen, C. H., Grierson, D. S., and Arnold, E. (2005) Crystal
Structures for HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase in Complexes with Three Pyridinone Derivatives: A New Class of
Non-Nucleoside Inhibitors Effective Against a Broad Range of Drug-Resistant Strains. J. Med. Chem. 48: 7582-7591.
Benjahad, A., Croisy, M., Monneret, C., Bisagni, E., Mabire, D., Coupa, S., Poncelet, A., Csoka, I., Guillemont, J.,
Meyer, C., Andries, K., Pauwels, R., de Bethune, M. P., Himmel, D.M., Das, K., Arnold, E., Nguyen, C. H., and
Grierson, D. S. (2005) 4-Benzyl and 4-benzoyl-3-dimethylaminopyridin-2(1H)-ones: In Vitro Evaluation of New
C-3-Amino-Substituted and C-5,6-Alkyl-Substituted Analogues Against Clinically Important HIV Mutant Strains.
J. Med. Chem. 48:1948-1964.
Risal, D., Gourinath, S., Himmel, D.M., Szent-Györgyi, A. G., and Cohen, C. (2004) Myosin Subfragment 1 Structures
Reveal a Partially Bound Nucleotide and a Complex Salt Bridge that Helps Couple Nucleotide and Actin Binding.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:8930-8935.
Gourinath, S., Himmel, D.M., Brown, J. H., Reshetnikova, L., Szent-Györgyi, A. G., and Cohen, C. (2003)
Crystal Structure of Scallop Myosin S1 in the Pre-Power Stroke State to 2.6 A Resolution: Flexibility and Function
in the Head. Structure 11:1621-1627.
*Himmel, D.M., Gourinath, S., Reshetnikova, L., Shen, Y., Szent-Györgyi, A. G., and Cohen, C. (2002)
Crystallographic Findings on the Internally-Uncoupled and Near-Rigor States of Myosin: Further Insights into
the Mechanics of the Motor. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:12645-12650.
*Houdusse, A., Kalabokis, V. N., Himmel, D., Szent-Györgyi, A. G., and Cohen, C. (1999) Atomic Structure of
Scallop Myosin Subfragment S1 Complexed with MgADP: A Novel Conformation of the Myosin Head. Cell 97:459-470.
*Indicates key contribution. #Featured in an article by Chemical & Engineering News ["New Way to Target HIV", Vol. 85(1), p. 9 (2007)]
X-ray crystallographer , Protein crystallographer , Structural biologist , X-ray data processing , Macromolecular crystal structure determination , HKL2000 HKL3000 , Denzo , Scalepack , Scala , synchrotron beamlines , synchrotron data collection , Raxis , molecular modelling , molecular dynamics , High Throughput Crystallography , High Throughput Crystallographer , High-Throughput Crystallography , High-Throughput Crystallographer , High Throughput Protein Crystallography , High Throughput Protein Crystallographer , High-Throughput Protein Crystallography , High-Throughput Protein Crystallographer , Art Robbins Gryphon , Art Robbins Phoenix , Formulatrix Formulator , Formulatrix Rock Imager , Formulatrix Rock Maker , computational chemist , structure-based drug discovery , cryogenic freezing , cryocrystallography , cryo-crystallography , AKTA FPLC experience , biochemist , biochemistry , enzymology , cell biology , lifesciences , life sciences , organic chemistry , scientist , protein-ligand complexes , scientific programming , software development, thermofluor binding assays, Ni-NTA columns, His60 Ni Superflow columns, Mono-S and Mono-Q columns, Heparin columns, HiTrap Desalting columns, Superdex 200 and Superdex 75 columns, agarose gels, SDS-PAGE, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Structure Activity Relationship analysis, SAR analysis, Molecular modeling, structure refinement.