My research program is centered on precision drug delivery, with particular emphasis on drug targeting and stroma modification as mechanisms to control therapeutic performance in complex diseases. A defining challenge in modern therapeutics is that drug potency alone does not determine clinical outcome. Instead, efficacy and safety depend on how precisely drugs are delivered, how long they persist in diseased tissues, and how pathological micro-environments shape drug exposure. In cancer and fibrosis, abnormal extracellular matrix architecture and stromal remodeling influence drug penetration, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity. Dense fibronectin‑rich matrices restrict transport, create spatial heterogeneity in exposure, and blunt the effectiveness of otherwise potent therapies. We aim to integrate drug targeting and stromal modulation strategies, to develop small molecules, biologics, and imaging agents for translation across disease indications and therapeutic classes.
Nano-better Paclitaxel for TNBC
National Institutes of Health
Turning Discovery into Health
Targeting Tumor Fibrosis with a Potent Peptide Inhibitor of Fibronectin Assembly
National Institutes of Health
Turning Discovery into Health
PEGylated FN-Binding Peptide for Therapy and Imaging of Pulmonary Fibrosis
ACTIVE GRANT
U.S. Department of Defense
