Core Faculty
Core Faculty
Edward Moreira Bahnson, Ph.D.
edward_bahnson@med.unc.eduBahnson’s interest in diabetic vasculopathies is two-fold: understanding the difference in plaque progression and restenosis rates in the diabetic vs. non-diabetic environment. Bahnson’s long-term goal is to develop a specific targeted therapy for the vasculature to normalize the redox imbalance of the diabetic arteries.
Elena V Batrakova, Ph.D.
batrakov@email.unc.eduThe main focus of Batrakova’s research is to develop a CNS delivery system for antioxidants and neuronal growth factors to attenuate neuroinflammation and produce neuroprotection in patients with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. For this purpose, her group utilizes inflammatory-response cells, macrophages and monocytes that can migrate toward the inflammation site, cross the blood brain barrier, and release the preloaded drugs in the brain.
Joseph M. DeSimone, Ph.D.
desimone@email.unc.eduThe recent breakthroughs in the DeSimone laboratories using specifically-designed materials for imprint or soft lithography have enabled an extremely versatile and flexible method for the direct fabrication and harvesting of monodisperse, shape-specific nano-biomaterials.
Zongchao Han, M.D., Ph.D.
zongchao@med.unc.eduThe Zongchao Han, Ph.D., M.D., laboratory is interested in developing gene therapies for retinal diseases. Han’s lab is particularly interested in understanding the gene expression patterns that are regulated by the cis-regulatory elements. Another interest of the Han laboratory is to produce a multifunctional NP carrier for specific and efficient gene/drug targeting.
Alexander V. Kabanov, Ph.D., Dr.Sci.
kabanov@email.unc.eduAlexander “Sasha” Kabanov, Ph.D., Dr.Sci., is the Mescal S. Ferguson Distinguished Professor, the Director of the Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and the Director of the Carolina Institute for Nanomedicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Melina R. Kibbe, M.D.
melina_kibbe@med.unc.eduKibbe’s research interests focus on developing novel therapies for patients with vascular disease while simultaneously studying the mechanism of how these therapies impact the vascular wall.
Marina Sokolsky, Ph.D.
msokolsk@email.unc.eduSokolsky’s research interests focus on drug delivery, brain delivery, sustained release, polymeric micelles, exosomes, inorganic nano particles, surface engineering for selective cell targeting, and remotely actuated theranostic drug delivery systems.
Shaomin Tian, Ph.D.
smtian@email.unc.eduTian is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the UNC School of Medicine and is a member of the DeSimone Research Group.
Nick Tsihlis, Ph.D.
nick_tsihlis@med.unc.eduNick Tsihlis’s focus is on developing and evaluating therapies for patients with vascular disease, as well as understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying how these therapies work.
Andrew Wang, M.D.
zawang@med.unc.eduThe central theme of Wang’s research program is to apply advances from other fields such as chemical engineering, materials science, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology, to the field of oncology.