Mentor: James Byrne, MD, PhD

Research

Dsup, a tardigrade-derived protein, protects DNA from oxidative damage and has radioprotective effects in healthy epithelial tissue. As bleomycin induces DNA strand breaks through free radical generation similar to radiation, we aim to repurpose this strategy for chemoprotection. By delivering Dsup mRNA via nebulized lipid nanoparticles to the lung epithelium, we aim to mitigate bleomycin’s dose-limiting pulmonary toxicity.