Intracellular Engineering 

Advances in medicine are largely dependent on understanding more fully what happens at the cellular level in the human body. The Intracellular Engineering Laboratory is exploring intracellular behavior through experimental and mathematical methods in order to develop ways to reverse abnormal changes in cells.

These methods have broad application clinically, and the laboratory has particular expertise in breast cancer, diabetic retinopathy, and vascular disorders.

The laboratory is studying endothelial cells in particular. This cell type tiles the interior surface of the vascular walls and is thought to play an important role in normal and abnormal physiological functioning of many organs. By exploring the signaling dynamics, intercellular interactions, and the mechanisms of the transport of blood-borne materials, the laboratory is laying the groundwork to understand how to develop targeting technology for gene therapy.

The laboratory is exploring and developing novel, nonviral carriers for delivery of gene therapy drugs to the nuclei of cells, including plasmids, lipids, and “antisense” RNA strands.

Co-Directors: Todd D. Giorgio,

Professor of Biomedical Engineering,

and Frederick R. Haselton,

Professor of Biomedical Engineering                  [next page]