- Leading lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation discovery efforts for all in vivo therapeutic programs.- Utilizing DOE-based screening strategies for discovery and optimization of lead LNPs with an emphasis on efficacy, tolerability, and stability. - Scale-up and early process development of promising LNP candidates, both internally and in collaboration with CDMOs.

Developed lipid nanoparticle formulations for gene therapy/gene editing applications.

- Led formulation discovery efforts for mRNA lipid nanoparticles targeting various organs. - Optimized lipid nanoparticles for delivery of self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) for vaccine and therapeutic applications. - Developed siRNA lipid nanoparticles for a variety of therapeutic projects including lung cancer and fibrosis.

PhD thesis research under the guidance of Prof. Katie Whitehead:(1) Lipid Nanoparticle- Mediated Delivery of Messenger RNA (mRNA) for Therapeutic and Gene Editing Applications- Designed, synthesized, and screened a library of 400 unique lipid nanoparticles that were loaded with mRNA and tested in cell culture and in mice to determine efficacy and toxicity.- Delivered lipid nanoparticles loaded with Cas9 mRNA and guide RNAs for CRISPR-mediated gene editing in mice.(2) Lipid Nanoparticle Chemistry Determines How Nucleoside Base Modifications Alter mRNA Delivery- Collaborated with Drew Weissman’s lab to study the relationship between LNP chemistry and mRNA base modifications.- Discovered that the protein expression benefit from mRNA base modifications was dependent on the tropism of the LNP.(3) Lipid Nanoparticle Formulations for the Co-Delivery of siRNA and mRNA- Developed and optimized lipid nanoparticle formulation for the co-delivery of siRNA and mRNA in vivo. - Formulated lipid nanoparticles with negatively charged “helper polymers” that improved siRNA and mRNA delivery potency in mice.

Research: Targeted drug delivery systems for the treatment of the rare cancer Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM)- Rhelogical analysis of fluids mimicking the blood of patients with WM- Development of polymeric nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery- Simulated IgM capture in the bloodstream using drug-loaded nanoparticles