Lali K. Medina-Kauwe, PhD
Research Scientist, Biomedical Sciences
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Academic Appointments
| Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences |
| Assistant Professor, Medicine |
Awards and Activities
| National Cancer Institute Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Award | 2003 |
| National Research Service Award (NRSA) | 1996 |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Fellowship | 1989 |
| Guest Editor: Gene Therapy | 2004 - 2005 |
| Phi Beta Kappa | 1989 - 2005 |
| American Society of Gene Therapy | 1997 |
| American Association for Cancer Research | 2007 |
Research Focus
Use the cell penetration functions of pathogen proteins to develop novel cell-targeted nanotherapeutics. Study protein-host cell interactions, including endocytic routing, to direct the design of our nanoparticles for improved therapy. Currently testing these particles for cancer targeting and treatment.
Research Contributions
Developed a recombinant protein that can target genes, drugs, and toxic compounds to cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Demonstrated that this protein utilizes multiple distinct routes of cell entry. Discovered a novel cell entry route thru the testing of recombinant soluble viral proteins.
Current investigations include:
Testing targeted drug complexes for ablation of HER2+ tumors in a mouse model of breast cancer. Tumor-targeting immunostimulatory activities of small nucleic acids. Studying nanoparticle cell entry routes to introduce traffic-enhancing modifications for improved therapeutic efficacy.
Selected Publications
- Agadjanian H, Ma J, Rentsendorj A, Valluripalli V, Hwang JY, Mahammed A, Farkas DL, Gray HB, Gross Z, Medina-Kauwe LK: Tumor detection and elimination by a targeted gallium corrole. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 106(15): 6105-10, 2009
- Medina-Kauwe LK: "Alternative" endocytic mechanisms exploited by pathogens: new avenues for therapeutic delivery?. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev., 59(8): 798-809, 2007
- Xie J, Chiang L, Contreras J, Wu K, Garner JA, Medina-Kauwe L, Hamm-Alvarez SF: Novel fiber-dependent entry mechanism for adenovirus serotype 5 in lacrimal acini. J. Virol., 80(23): 11833-51, 2006
- Rentsendorj A, Xie J, MacVeigh M, Agadjanian H, Bass S, Kim DH, Rossi J, Hamm-Alvarez SF, Medina-Kauwe LK: Typical and atypical trafficking pathways of Ad5 penton base recombinant protein: implications for gene transfer. Gene Ther., 13(10): 821-36, 2006
- Medina-Kauwe LK, Maguire M, Kasahara N, Kedes L: Nonviral gene delivery to human breast cancer cells by targeted Ad5 penton proteins. Gene Ther., 8(23): 1753-61, 2001
- Medina-Kauwe LK, Leung V, Wu L, Kedes L: Assessing the binding and endocytosis activity of cellular receptors using GFP-ligand fusions. BioTechniques, 29(3): 602-4, 606-8, 609, 2000
