“Bioinspired Assembly of Ribonucleoproteins for RNA-based Therapeutics” 

Biomedical Engineering faculty candidate

Abstract: RNA-based therapeutics such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), aptamers, and synthetic messenger RNAs (mRNAs), hold great promise for targeting many currently undruggable genes and gene products and for generating entirely new therapeutic paradigms in diseases ranging from cancer to pandemic influenza to Alzheimer’s disease. However, there remains an unmet need to improve their therapeutic efficacy. In this talk, I will first describe a novel approach of preassembling mRNA and siRNA with their complementary proteins by utilizing inherent molecular recognition and polymer chemistry to enhance the potency of existing RNA-based therapeutics in primary cells and animal models. At the end, I will share my future research interests in leveraging state-ofthe-art protein and nucleic acid engineering strategies, mouse cancer models, and polymer chemistry to push the boundaries of existing nucleic acid therapeutics for cancer vaccines and adoptive T cell transfer.

Biomedical Engineering (BME) seminars

For inquiries contact Jamie Skubal.

GETTING TO CAMPUS

Please know that there have been changes to parking on the Danforth Campus due to the east end construction.

Metrolink or biking to the Danforth campus are the easiest options.

If you choose to drive, the closest parking is in Millbrook garage off of Forest Park Parkway and Throop Drive.  It will take approx. 15 minutes to walk to our building.