We are a group of scientists and students working together to design new tools for delivering proteins and RNA into human cells. Our mission is to make therapies more precise, efficient, and safe by learning from nature’s own strategies — especially viruses — and re-engineering them into delivery systems. Just as importantly, these same tools allow us to probe fundamental cellular processes, helping us uncover the mechanisms that drive neuroregeneration, neuroprotection, and cellular resilience.
Our research spans multiple approaches:
- Mimicking viral entry and rational design to create endosomal escape reagents.
- Engineering protein and RNA capsids for targeted delivery to neurons, retinal cells, and other sensitive cell types.
- Developing small molecule and peptide combinations that enhance delivery while reducing toxicity.
- Creating strategies for protein deletion, enabling the rapid removal of cellular proteins that block regeneration or survival.
- Exploring new production methods to make RNA and biologics more accessible and affordable.
We use a wide range of techniques, including protein engineering, computational design, cell-based assays, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, high-performance chromatography, and live tissue models. Together, these strategies allow us to connect fundamental biochemistry with real-world biomedical challenges, while training the next generation of scientists.
To extend the impact of our work, we also collaborate with experts to test our designs in in vivo models, ensuring that our discoveries move beyond the laboratory and toward applications that support human health and neuroprotection.