April 2026
NSF GFRP
Maggie, Caroline, and Paris receive recognition from the National Science Foundation! Maggie and Caroline received an NSF GFRP, and Paris has received an Honorable Mention. Congrats!
March 2026
Northern Ireland Exchange
Ciaran visits from Dr. Emma McErlean's lab at Queen's University Belfast! We are so grateful for the opportunity to learn from his scientific perspective and show him around Chapel Hill!
March 2026
New Lab Member
Paris Kiehl
Paris joins our lab from the Cell Biology PhD program. Welcome Paris!
March 2026
Northern Ireland Exchange
Rachel Van Keulen-Miller, PhD
Rachel visits Dr. Emma McErlean's lab in the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University Belfast! This is part of an international collaboration investigating nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery.
February 2026
Eshan Defends!
Eshan Narasipura, PhD
Eshan defends his thesis, "mRNA-based Cancer Vaccines for Melanoma Treatment." Congrats Dr. Esh!
February 2026
Rachel Defends!
Rachel Van Keulen-Miller, PhD
Rachel defends her thesis, "The Dynamic Cell as a Contextual Variable in mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles." We are so excited to see what Dr. VK will do next!
December 2025
Pharmacology Award
Rachel Van Keulen-Miller
Rachel is awarded the Thomas Collum Butler Award for excellence in research in the Department of Pharmacology. Congrats Rachel!
October 2025
AAPS Emerging Leader Award
Owen S. Fenton, PhD
Owen was awarded the AAPS Emerging Leader Award! This award highlights Owen's leadership and impact in pharmaceutical sciences to promote public health.
October 2025
New Lab Members
Caroline Argenti and Maggie Magaw
Two DPMP students have joined our team! Welcome Caroline and Maggie.
April 2025
Mentorship Award
Vincent Fung
Vincent Fung, our amazing post doc, won a School of Pharmacy "kudos" for mentorship - well deserved! Congratulations, Vincent!
April 2025
New Lab Member
Sawyer Andersen
Sawyer Andersen, pharmacology graduate student has joined our team! Welcome Sawyer!
March 2025
Palas Defends!
Palas Tiwade, Ph.D.
Palas defends his thesis, "mRNA Based Gene Therapy for Non Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment"
Congratulations, Palas!
March 2025
Outreach
Culbreth STEM Day
Lab members volunteered with STEM outreach within the DPMP department for middle schoolers. Thanks all!
February 2025
New Lab Member
Nicole Gill
Nicole Gill, Chem E, joined our team!
Welcome Nicole!
December 2024
Grant Awarded
MIRA
Our lab was awarded an NIH R35 MIRA Grant from the National Institute of General Medicine! This grant will allow our lab to investigate and manipulate cells in low oxygen environments using lipid nanoparticles.
August 2024
Poster Presentation
DPMP Fall Symposium
Palas, 4th year graduate student, won an award for his poster at the DPMP Fall symposium, where he presented his work on a novel lung expressing platform for delivering mRNA therapy. Congrats Palas!
July 2024
High School Outreach
Shadow A Scientist
Eshan (3rd Year PhD Student) volunteered with Shadow A Scientist, a program that connects interested high school students with scientific laboratories. Eshan taught thehigh school students about cell culture, microfluidic mixing, and chemistry techniques. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Eshan!
June 2024
T32 Fellowship
Pharmacology T32 Award
Rachel (3rd Year PhD student) recieved a T32 fellowship through the UNC Pharmacological Sciences Training Grant. Congrats Rachel!
April 2024
Elementary Outreach
STEAM Event at Skroog's
Adrianna, Rachel, and Owen volunteered with the STEAM program with the Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics to conduct science demonstrations for elementary students.
January 2024
Poster Award
DPMP Poster Sympoisium Award
Rachel won 2nd place at the DPMP poster presentation for her research project. Congrats Rachel!
September 2023
Waccamaw Siouan STEM Day
Outreach Event
Owen and Palas volunteered with the Waccamaw Siouan STEM event, bringing science demonstrations to the Waccamaw tribe in NC. Thanks for volunteering!
2022
Middle School Outreach
STEAM Event at Local School
Lab members volunteered with the STEAM program with the Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics to demonstrate to middle schoolers how medicines are made. Great job all!