Our mission is to advance human health by developing innovative extracellular vesicle-based therapeutics to influence cell communication, enabling precise and effective treatment strategies across a range of biological contexts and diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disease, and aging.
Our mission is to advance human health by developing innovative extracellular vesicle-based therapeutics to influence cell communication, enabling precise and effective treatment strategies across a range of biological contexts and diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disease, and aging.
About us
The Nash Lab studies how extracellular vesicle (EV) components reflect and modulate immune dynamics during aging, disease, and therapeutic intervention to inform the development of “smart” EVs to deliver targeted treatments to specific cells and tissues.
Using a combination of omics technologies, advanced imaging, and functional assays, we characterize EV cargo—including nucleic acid, protein, lipid, and metabolites—as a window into immune system status.
Our work is translationally focused, with applications in:
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- Cancer immunotherapy
- Autoimmune disease progression
- Immunosenescence and age-related immune decline
- Cardiovascular disease
In the Nash lab, we believe in creating a future where disease is detected before it strikes.
Where the immune system isn’t just a line of defense, but a platform for healing.
Where we do more than research – we reimagine the boundaries of medicine.
In the Nash lab, we believe in creating a future where disease is detected before it strikes.
Where the immune system isn’t just a line of defense, but a platform for healing.
Where we do more than research – we reimagine the boundaries of medicine.
Research Areas
Cell and Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Engineering
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 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 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.
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.
Lab News
Nash Lab 2025 Renovation Project
We are renovating to update the lab space to allow for new and improved cell engineering, imaging, as well as isolation, characterization, and modification of extracellular vesicles! Can’t wait to see how the space turns out!
Dr. Nash joins the Rice Biotech Launch Pad leadership team
The Biotech Launch Pad is an accelerator focused on rapid translation of Rice University developed technologies into clinical practice to provide patient access to leading-edge therapeutic products. Amanda is excited to utilize this opportunity to translate extracellular vesicle-based cell communication technologies into the clinic! Learn more here
New Publication: IL-12-producing cytokine factories induce precursor exhausted T cells and elimination of primary and metastatic tumors
Amanda’s paper with the Veiseh lab on IL-12-producing cytokine factories is published in the Journal of Immunotherapy for Cancer (JITC). Check it out! Go team – we cannot wait to see the future work from the Nash lab and the Veiseh lab. Learn more here