Last Updated: September 2024
Principal Investigators
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Pieter R. Cullis, PhD., FNAI (USA), FRSC, FRS, OBC, OC Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - UBC Founding Director, NanoMedicines Innovation Network
My research interests concern the roles of lipids in biological membranes and the development of nanomedicines using lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology to deliver small molecule drugs and macromolecular “genetic” drugs in vivo. Studies on the roles of lipids concern the ability of membrane lipids to adopt non-bilayer structures (including the roles of such structures in processes such as membrane fusion) and transport processes across bilayer lipid systems induced by trans-bilayer ion gradients. My interests in nanomedicines are first: development of nanomedicines employing LNP delivery systems containing small molecule drugs, particularly drugs used in cancer chemotherapy, with the aim of increasing potency and reducing toxicity by enhancing drug delivery to, and release at, sites of disease such as tumours and second: designing nanomedicines based on LNP technology that enable the therapeutic use of macromolecular genetic drugs such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), antisense oligonucleotides, mRNA and plasmids for gene therapy, including gene editing. These efforts have led to four nanomedicines that have been approved for clinical use by regulatory agencies such as the US Food and Drug Agency (FDA), the European Medicines Agency and Health Canada. Seven other nanomedicines are in clinical testing (see Table below). Of particular note is the drug Onpattro, a gene therapy that was approved (August 2018) by the FDA to treat a disease known as hereditary amyloid transthyretin (hATTR) amyloidosis. Onpattro is the first RNAi-based drug to be approved by the FDA and employs an LNP delivery system developed in collaboration with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (Boston), my UBC laboratory and two spin-offs that I co-founded (Arbutus Biopharma and Acuitas Therapeutics). Onpattro delivers an siRNA to silence the TTR gene in the liver. A remarkable feature of Onpattro is that it appears able to not only stop further progression of this hitherto untreatable disease (which usually leads to death within five years of diagnosis), but also to reverse the neuropathies and cardiovascular issues associated with hATTR. Read More |
Research Associates
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Genc Basha, MD, PhD Research Associate
The focus of my research includes the mechanism of uptake and intracellular trafficking of liposomal nanoparticles and gene targeting in antigen presenting cells (DCs) and tumor cells.
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Arash Momeni, BSc, MSc, PhD
Arash was born in the beautiful city of Esfahan, Iran and has graduated with BSc and MSc degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Tehran Polytechnic University, working on polymeric and lipid-based drug delivery systems. He then moved to Canada to do his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Dalhousie University, Halifax with an NSERC CREATE Fellowship. During his PhD, at Prof. Filiaggi lab, he focused on biomaterials specifically phosphate glasses and inorganic polymers for biomedical applications, developing a patented embolic system for cancer treatment. He continued as a postdoc at Dalhousie for one more year, then moved to Germany with an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship in 2017. In Germany, he joined the Biomaterial department of the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interface Science and in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, he focused on nano/micron-scale biomineralization in marine algae, coccolithophores. In 2019, he returned to Canada and joined Prof. Maclachlan group at University of British Columbia focusing on cellulose nano-crystals and their applications in the biomedical field and advanced material systems. In 2021, he joined Pieter Cullis lab developing nanoparticles for lipid-based platforms with a triggered release potential. Arash enjoys physical activities, DIY projects, travelling and exploration. |
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Bin Zhao, BSc, PhD Research Associate
Bio & research aims: My research interest is concentrated on the development of functional DNA nanostructure-based lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platforms for enhanced and triggered release of therapeutic drugs and nucleic acids. A current project is focused on the use of pH-responsive DNA nanostructures to understand the mechanism whereby LNP are delivering siRNA or mRNA to the cell cytoplasm.
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nDmhu_EAAAAJ&hl=en |
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Igor Zhigaltsev, PhD Research Associate
My areas of interest include the design, formulation, physicochemical characterization and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of liposome-based drug forms. Specific methods and techniques used in my research include: preformed vesicle approach, remote loading techniques, freeze-fracture and transmission electron microscopy, evaluation of in vivo pharmacokinetics of liposomal drugs. |
Post-Doctoral Fellows
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Zé Alhussan BS (Nuclear Engineering) / MS (Radiation Health Physics), Oregon State University
Currently working on the co-encapsulation of cancer drugs/mRNA and metallic nanoparticles within lipid nanoparticles for potential use in triggered release and other applications..
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/abdulaziz-alhussan-phd |
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Ehsan Ansari Dezfouli, BSc, MSc, PhD
I specialize in developing nucleic acids delivery platforms, primarily focusing on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and polymeric NPs. These platforms are designed to effectively transport a variety of cargoes, including mRNA, siRNA, DNA, and small molecules. My current research centers around assessing gene silencing's potential for treating infectious diseases. Concurrently, I am dedicated to enhancing transfection efficiency by refining LNP characteristics and bolstering the stability of LNPs. This involves optimizing formulation techniques and implementing post-formulation modifications to improve storage conditions and stability.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ehsan-ansari-dezfouli-a69864199 Google Scholar: scholar.google.com/citations?user=ATNFwhMAAAAJ&hl=en |
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Karen Chan, BSc, PhD
My research is centered on developing novel lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations for the delivery of diverse therapeutic cargo. A current project is focused on the encapsulation of immunomodulatory peptides. I am also interested in the use of LNPs for delivering gene therapy drugs to treat blood coagulation disorders. |
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Miffy Cheng, BSc, PhD
My research interest includes the synthesis of new lipid nanoparticle building blocks and developing novel lipid-based nanoparticles platforms. My research also explores the intrinsic physicochemical properties of lipid nanoparticles and incorporates different imaging probes to enable image guidance toward gene therapy and optimally improve gene delivery.
ResearchGate: researchgate.net/profile/Miffy-Hok-Yan-Cheng LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/miffy-cheng-35ab149a |
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Muhammad Muzamil Khan, Ph.D
My areas of interest include design and formulation of Lipid Nanoparticles for mRNA delivery. I am working to optimize the Lipid Nanoparticles for better immune response and development of bacterial vaccine. Previously, I have worked at Center of Nanomedicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston to develop Lipid Nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy after obtaining prestigious Fulbright Scholarship by US Department of State. During my Ph.D I carried out a part of my Research at Northeastern University, Boston and worked on development of hypoxia sensitive delivery system for targeting Tumor Cell.
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Jerry Leung, BSc (Hons), PhD
My research focuses on using lipid nanoparticles to modify platelets and their precursor cells, megakaryocytes, to produce platelets with enhanced and improved functions. Implementation of these strategies to create such designer platelets may eventually lead to targeted blood and cancer therapies, as well as more effective platelet products for transfusion. |
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Suiyang Liao
> Engineering LNPs for extra-hepatic delivery of mRNA
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/suiyang-liao Google Scholar: scholar.google.com/citations?user=W0hjPzUAAAAJ&hl=en ResearchGate: researchgate.net/profile/Suiyang-Liao Twitter: @SuiyangLiao |
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Yan Mei, BASc, MASc, PhD
After completing my PhD in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia, I joined Pieter’s lab for postdoctoral training, supported by the Michael Smith Health Research BC Trainee Award. My research focuses on investigating the unique interactions between metallic nanoparticles and lipid bilayers. Additionally, I am developing hybrid triggered release systems by integrating iron oxide nanoparticles or gold nanoparticles into liposomes or lipid nanoparticles, leveraging these interactions.
Google Scholar: scholar.google.ca/citations?user=3AntKgkAAAAJ&hl=en |
Graduate Students
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Kevin Fox, BSc
MSc Pharmaceutical Science candidate with a focus on using bio-mimetic strategies to improve the translational efficiency, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution of LNP-RNA. Equipped with a full suite of pre-clinical drug development, throughout formulations, cell-based assays, and in-vivo assessments, my thesis is centered on screening novel formulations for their impacts on circulatory protein adhesion and selective organ targeting.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ksfox/ |
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Lane Messier, BASc (Biomedical Engineering)
I am focused of creating and optimizing lipid nanoparticle formulations in collaboration with academic and industry partners to enable the delivery of various therapeutic cargo. I am also interested in designing these systems to enable extra hepatic delivery and triggered release. |
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Madelaine Robertson, BSc (Hons)
My research is focused on optimizing and employing lipid nanoparticles as a delivery system for mRNA and other proteins into platelets. The goal being to express exogenous proteins that could alter platelet function, such as improving clotting ability. Clinically, platelets with enhanced function could decrease the dose necessary for transfusion, or act as a potential treatment for blood disorders. |
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Yao Zhang, BSc
My research focuses on the formulation and characterization of lipid nanoparticles used for drug delivery. I am also interested in the physiochemical and morphological properties of these systems. |
Research Technicians & Engineers
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Marcos Bertran, MEng NanoCore Research Assistant
My role is to design and optimise lipid nanoparticle formulations for the delivery of various therapeutic cargo, working alongside academic and industry collaborators. I also assist with other research activities within the Cullis Lab.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcos-b-8a79321ba |
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Harrison Fan, BASc, MASc Research Scientific Engineer
The core of my research is focused on the design and assembly of apparatuses to trigger the release of cargo from lipid nanoparticle systems. The use of encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles in response to intense oscillating magnetic fields, or encapsulated gold nanoparticles in response to high-energy pulsed lasers, may be key technologies to assist the localized release of e.g., anti-cancer drugs.
ResearchGate: researchgate.net/profile/Harrison_Fan LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/harrison-fan |
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Laboratory Manager
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Cayetana Schluter, MSc, CPA, CGA, PMP Laboratory Manager
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Visiting Scientists & Associated Members
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Theresa M. Allen, PhD, FRSC Adjunct Professor, NanoMedicines Research Group, Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, UBC, Vancouver |
