Why are we interested in extracellular vesicles (EVs)?
EVs, including exosomes and microvesicles, are small, membrane-bound particles naturally secreted by cells. They play critical roles in intercellular communication by transporting proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between cells. Due to their biocompatibility, ability to cross biological barriers, and customizable cargo, EVs are increasingly being explored as therapeutic tools across several major disease areas, including oncology, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, and aging.
The therapeutic potential of EVs lies in their natural role as information carriers, their modifiability, and their ability to home in on specific tissues. While significant challenges remain—such as standardizing isolation methods, improving large-scale production, and ensuring safety—EV-based therapies are an exciting frontier across disease areas.
Why are we interested in extracellular vesicles (EVs)?
EVs, including exosomes and microvesicles, are small, membrane-bound particles naturally secreted by cells. They play critical roles in intercellular communication by transporting proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between cells. Due to their biocompatibility, ability to cross biological barriers, and customizable cargo, EVs are increasingly being explored as therapeutic tools across several major disease areas, including oncology, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, and aging.
The therapeutic potential of EVs lies in their natural role as information carriers, their modifiability, and their ability to home in on specific tissues. While significant challenges remain—such as standardizing isolation methods, improving large-scale production, and ensuring safety—EV-based therapies are an exciting frontier across disease areas.
Research Areas
We engineer cells and EVs to create precise delivery systems for therapeutic nucleic acids, proteins, and small molecules across diverse immunological conditions, including cancer, autoimmune disease, and aging.
Research Areas
We aim to understand the mechanisms by which EVs mediate immune signaling in physiological and pathological contexts, and how they can be strategically harnessed as targeted therapeutic platforms.
We engineer cells and EVs to create precise delivery systems for therapeutic nucleic acids, proteins, and small molecules across diverse immunological conditions, including cancer, autoimmune disease, and aging.
We are investigating temporal changes in the biomolecular cargo of EVs (e.g., miRNAs, proteins, lipids) to assess their utility as non-invasive biomarkers for various diseases.
We are focused on the clinical translation of EV-based therapeutics, advancing these technologies from proof-of-concept through preclinical validation and into clinical testing.
Applications:
Oncology
Therapeutics | Communication
EVs can be engineered to deliver therapeutic agents directly to tumor cells or within the tumor microenvironment (TME) to modulate local immune cells. Further, tumor-targeting or TME-targeting ligands can be added to the EV surface to enhance specificity and minimize off-target effects. Examples of molecules that EVs can be engineered or loaded with include:
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- Chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., paclitaxel, doxorubicin)
- siRNA, miRNA, or mRNA
- Proteins or peptides (e.g., cytokines, chemokines)
- CRISPR-Cas9 components
These cargoes can be delivered specifically to tumor cells or the TME, reducing off-target toxicity and increasing therapeutic efficacy. EVs have several advantages:
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- Biocompatible and less immunogenic than synthetic nanoparticles
- Naturally home to tumors via surface ligands or modifications
- Can cross biological barriers (e.g., blood–brain barrier)
Diagnostics | Translation
EVs released by tumor cells encapsulate biomolecules that reflect the molecular profile of the originating tumor. These biomarkers can provide real-time information about:
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- Oncogenic mutations (e.g., KRAS, EGFR, TP53)
- Gene expression patterns and epigenetic alterations
- Tumor subtype and aggressiveness
EVs can be isolated from most biological fluids, including blood, saliva, and urine, which allows minimally invasive, repeatable sampling for:
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- Early cancer detection
- Detection of recurrence or minimal residual disease
- Monitoring treatment response
- Stratifying patients into risk groups or treatment cohorts
- Identify resistance mechanisms (e.g., secondary mutations after targeted therapy)
Autoimmune Diseases
Therapeutics | Communication
EVs also hold significant promise as therapeutic agents in autoimmune diseases due to their natural roles in intercellular communication, immune regulation, and tissue repair. In autoimmune disorders (where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues), EVs can be used to modulate immune responses, deliver anti-inflammatory cargo, and promote immune tolerance. For example, EVs can be engineered or sourced from cells with immunoregulatory properties (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells, dendritic cells, regulatory T cells) to:
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- Suppress overactive immune cells
- Promote regulatory T cell (Treg) expansion
- Inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines
- Enhance anti-inflammatory pathways
Diagnostics | Translation
In the context of diagnostics, EVs have significant potential due to their ability to carry and protect disease-related molecular information from immune and tissue cells. Because EVs circulate in accessible body fluids like blood, urine, saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid, they serve as non-invasive, real-time biomarkers of immune dysregulation and tissue damage. EVs can give us insight into:
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- Disease presence
- Disease activity/severity
- Organ involvement
- Response to therapy