PRiME Connaught Global Speaker
Speaker:
Professor Dan Peer
Director of the Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine,
Vice President for Research,
Tel Aviv University
Title: “Cell Specific Delivery of RNAs Using Targeted Lipid Nanoparticles: from Vaccines to Therapeutic Genome Editing”
Abstract
Objectives: Modulating gene expression that can lead to cell death in the case of tumors or to change of expression of desired proteins for protein replacement therapy or for vaccines or editing of cells for knockout or knockin of genes is a major challenge and an unmet need.
Methods: We have developed several strategies to target unique cell surface receptors, as well as a very large library of ionizible lipids with two special features: highly immunogenic or less immunogenic (that can be used for repeated doses). In addition, we developed novel mRNA sequences with more potent immunogenicity that can be utilized against bacterial infection.
Results: In this talk, I will share several examples ranging from new therapeutic targets identified for cancer (e.g. CKAP5) to the first bacterial mRNA vaccine and will also share some data on gene editing for cancer therapeutics.
Conclusions: Cell specific delivery of RNA payloads is feasible and represent the next generation milestone in personalized medicine.
Professor Dan Peer
About Professor Dan Peer:
Dan Peer is a Professor and Director of the Laboratory of Precision Nanomedicine and Vice President for Research at Tel Aviv University. He did pioneer work in developing strategies to deliver RNA payloads in a cell specific manner. He developed one of the largest lipid libraries with more than 100,000 different lipids.
Peer lab was the first to show systemic cell specific delivery of mRNA molecules in an animal and the first to show highly efficient therapeutic genome editing in cancer in a cell type specific manner. He also developed the first bacterial mRNA vaccine.
Dr. Peer is the recipient of more than 35 awards and honors. He holds 148 pending and granted patents that have been licensed to 13 companies and more than 10 strategies he developed are currently in clinical testing. He is the founder of 4 startup companies (one was acquired by Danaher Cooperation in 2021).
He has published more than 180 manuscripts; 3 books and gave numerous invited, plenary and keynote talks worldwide. He also serves as an editor and on the editorial board of more than 20 journals. Dr. Peer is a Member of the Israel Young Academy and International Member of the US National Academy of Engineering. He was recently elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in the USA.