Chen Lab
Principal Investigator: Ritchie Chen
Institution: University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)
Primary Subfield: Neuroscience
Recruitment Status: ✅ Accepting PhD Students ✅ Hiring Postdocs
Research Focus
Project Summary/Abstract Precise delivery of biomolecules to specific cell types is essential for elucidating cellular functions and advancing precision molecular therapies. While viral vectors have achieved significant advances in targeted gene delivery through capsid engineering and cell-type-specific promoters, they are limited by immunogenicity, restricted cargo capacity, and scalability challenges. Non-viral lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) offer advantages such as high payload capacity, low immunogenicity, and scalable production. However, achieving the cell-type specificity inherent to viral systems remains a critical challenge. This proposal seeks to advance gene delivery by integrating the scalability and versatility of LNPs with the precise cell-type targeting of viral vectors. We introduce two innovative strategies: (1) Bio-inspired design of LNPs to enhance transfection efficiency and specificity, and (2) Development of programmable RNA sensors that enable cell-type-specific expression of transgenes. We will employ a multidisciplinary approach combining nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and systems neuroscience. We will develop novel LNP formulations and characterize their p…
Active NIH Awards
- 1R35GM162214-01: Membrane-inspired lipid nanoparticles for cell-type-specific expression of programmable RNA (2026)
- 5R00NS119784-05: Noninvasive Optogenetic Interventions for Epilepsy (2025)
- 5R00NS119784-04: Noninvasive Optogenetic Interventions for Epilepsy (2024)
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