Nottingham Research Fellows projects

Alessandro is a Nottingham Research Fellow who joined the Anderson and Langer Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2024, where he is developing advanced cellular platforms for therapeutic protein delivery. His work focuses on genetically engineering ARPE-19 cells and probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii as chassis for sustained, immune-protected expression of biologics. In collaboration with ongoing efforts in the lab to deploy macroencapsulation devices, Alessandro is investigating both mammalian and microbial systems for controlled, retrievable protein replacement therapies. He is implementing CRISPR-based functional screens to identify genetic modifiers that enhance expression and secretion under device-relevant conditions. This multidisciplinary project bridges synthetic biology, materials science, and translational bioengineering to advance novel strategies for in vivo biologic delivery without systemic immunosuppression.

Julie joined the University of Nottingham as an Anne McLaren Fellow to pursue interdisciplinary research at the interface of chemistry, materials science and immuno-engineering. Her work is focused on guiding immune responses through the rational design of biomaterials able to locally interact with the cellular environment. The ability to modulate immune cells behavior in a controlled manner is critical for achieving desired therapeutic outcomes. Julie aims to design biomaterials that influence immune cell function by mimicking natural cues or delivering signals, adapting their properties to guide immune behavior and enable precise, adaptable, and long-lasting immunotherapies. This approach holds significant promise for a wide range of applications, from re-establishing immune tolerance in autoimmune diseases to enhancing immune functionality in the aging population, where immune dysregulation is a major health concern.