Renata Pasqualini
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, USA
Title: Ligand-directed targeting and molecular imaging based on vascular zip codes revealed by in vivo phage display
Biography
Biography: Renata Pasqualini
Abstract
We have developed in vivo phage display, a functional peptide and antibody screening established in animal models and later in patients, to isolate homing ligands and enable subsequent identification of tissue-specific receptors. Systematic implementation of this strategy advanced the construction of a comprehensive map of vascular markers in each organ, tissue or disease. Indeed, our pioneering discoveries of tissue-specific and angiogenesis-related receptors (vascular "ZIP codes") may lead to a new ligand-directed pharmacology. Over the last few years our efforts have been focused on characterizing the vascular diversity associated with individual cancer patients using antibody-based drug discovery in a precision medicine context and optimizing targeted nanoparticles for drug delivery without off-target toxicity. These new programs represent fertile ground for discovery and drug development