Overview
Diana Borgas assists clients, including biotechnology companies, universities, and research institutes, with building and managing US and foreign patent portfolios in the areas of molecular and cellular biology, genetics, plant technologies, and biochemistry. She has extensive knowledge in the areas of oncology, signal transduction, transgenic technology, immune response modulation and therapeutics, polymer-based and biological-based drug delivery systems, antisense nucleic acid therapeutics, peptides, and plant genetics. In addition to patent application drafting and prosecution, Diana provides support for freedom-to-operate analyses.
Prior to joining the firm, Diana conducted postdoctoral research in the Department of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, RI. She investigated the mechanisms by which cigarette smoke contributes to endothelial cell permeability and the development of acute lung injury using in vitro and in vivo approaches.
As a graduate student in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at Brown University, Diana investigated signaling dysregulation that contributes to aberrant cell migration in hepatocellular carcinoma and alcoholic liver disease. Her graduate work resulted in presentations at national conferences, merit-based awards and publications in scientific journals.
Diana’s undergraduate research at Rhode Island College focused on identifying Vibrio species of bacteria that synthesized biodegradable storage material for its potential use in industrial and medical applications.
Diana has written on the topics of alcoholic liver disease, liver cancer, and acute lung injury in various scientific journals, including the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
Activities
- American Physiological Society
- Peer Mentor for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology's Maximizing Access to Research Careers (FASEB-MARC) program. Profile here.
Recognition
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention
- Outstanding Research in Experimental Pathology from the American Society for Investigative Pathology
- Research Society on Alcoholism Student Merit Award
- American Physiological Society Travel Fellowship Award
Scientific Publications
- Lu Q, Mundy M, Chambers E, Lange T, Newton J, Borgas D, Yao H, Choudhary G, Basak R, Oldham M, Rounds S. Alda-1 Protects Against Acrolein-Induced Acute Lung Injury and Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2017 Dec;57(6):662-673. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2016-0342OC. PMID: 28763253; PMCID: PMC5765414.
- Tong M, Gao JS, Borgas D, de la Monte SM. Phosphorylation Modulates Aspartyl-(Asparaginyl)-β Hydroxylase Protein Expression, Catalytic Activity and Migration in Human Immature Neuronal Cerebellar Cells. Cell Biol (Henderson, NV). 2013 Sep;6(2):133. doi: 10.4172/2324-9293.1000133. Epub 2017 Jun 19. PMID: 29607347; PMCID: PMC5878085.
- Sakhatskyy P, Wang Z, Borgas D, Lomas-Neira J, Chen Y, Ayala A, Rounds S, Lu Q. Double-hit mouse model of cigarette smoke priming for acute lung injury. American Journal Physiology: Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2017 Jan 1;312(1):L56-L67. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00436.2016. Epub 2016 Nov 18.
- Borgas D, Chambers E, Newton J, Ko J, Rivera S, Rounds S, Lu Q. Cigarette Smoke Disrupted Lung Endothelial Barrier Integrity and Increased Susceptibility to Acute Lung Injury via Histone Deacetylase 6. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2016 May;54(5):683-96. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2015-0149OC. PMID: 26452072; PMCID: PMC4942194.
- Borgas DL, Gao JS, Tong M, de la Monte SM. Potential Role of Phosphorylation as a Regulator of Aspartyl-(asparaginyl)-β-hydroxylase: Relevance to Infiltrative Spread of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Liver Cancer. 2015 Sep;4(3):139-53. doi: 10.1159/000367731. Epub 2015 Jun 5. PMID: 26675015; PMCID: PMC4608650.
- Borgas DL, Gao JS, Tong M, Roper N, de la Monte SM. Regulation of Aspartyl-(Asparaginyl)-β-Hydroxylase Protein Expression and Function by Phosphorylation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. J Nat Sci. 2015 Apr 1;1(4):e84. PMID: 26029741; PMCID: PMC4445734.
- Borgas DL, Deochand C, Tong M, de la Monte SM (2014) PPAR Agonist Effects on Notch Signaling Mediators in Experimental Chronic Alcohol-Induced Steatohepatitis. Biochem Physiol 3:145. doi:10.4172/2168-9652.1000145
- Lizarazo D, Zabala V, Tong M, Longato L, de la Monte SM. Ceramide inhibitor myriocin restores insulin/insulin growth factor signaling for liver remodeling in experimental alcohol-related steatohepatitis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 Oct;28(10):1660-8. doi: 10.1111/jgh.12291. PMID: 23802886; PMCID: PMC4551508.
- Lizarazo D, Zabala V, Tong M, Longato L, de la Monte SM. Ceramide inhibitor myriocin restores insulin/insulin growth factor signaling for liver remodeling in experimental alcohol-related steatohepatitis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 Oct;28(10):1660-8. doi: 10.1111/jgh.12291. PMID: 23802886; PMCID: PMC4551508.
Interests
Diana enjoys baking, as well as all things home décor and renovation.
