From Lab to Life: How mRNA and Materials Science Are Shaping the Future of Medicine
At Johns Hopkins University, materials scientist Hai-Quan Mao is helping lead NIH-funded research that could redefine how we treat cancer, nerve injuries, malaria, and tissue loss—with innovative biomaterials and next-generation RNA therapies.
Building Better Delivery for mRNA Medicine
mRNA-based therapies are showing promise in training the immune system to recognize and eliminate tumors. But to unlock their full potential, researchers must solve a key challenge: how to deliver these therapies precisely and effectively.
At the forefront of this work is Hai-Quan Mao, a professor of materials science and engineering at the Whiting School of Engineering and director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology. Together with collaborators from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, including Jordan Green, Jonathan Schneck, and Lei Zheng, Mao is developing biodegradable mRNA nanoparticles that target circulating monocytes—a type of white blood cell. This delivery system could dramatically improve how mRNA therapies fight solid tumors and metastatic cancers.
Where Materials Science Meets Medicine
Mao’s lab is part of the NIH-funded Johns Hopkins Center for Translational Immunoengineering, where engineers, clinicians, and physician-scientists work hand in hand. His research spans a wide range of medical applications, all grounded in the same principle: designing patient-centered solutions through advanced biomaterials like nanoparticles, hydrogels, and composite systems.
“Our goal is to improve healing, strengthen immune responses, and ultimately transform patient care,” Mao said.
Restoring Nerves and Regenerating Tissue
In collaboration with Dr. Sami Tuffaha, Mao is creating nanoparticles to promote nerve regeneration in patients with peripheral nerve injuries—a condition that can lead to lasting disability if not properly treated. Their goal: improve functional recovery through enhanced repair at the cellular level.
Alongside Dr. Sashank Reddy, Mao is also developing a nanofiber-hydrogel composite to encourage vascularized soft tissue regeneration. This innovation could support facial reconstruction and treat tissue loss following cancer surgery, offering new options for patients who previously had few.
Fighting Malaria with Liver-Resident T Cells
Beyond cancer and reconstructive medicine, Mao’s team is contributing to the global fight against malaria, a disease that caused over 600,000 deaths and 150 million infections in 2023. Working with the University of Washington and the University of South Florida, the team aims to stop the parasite by generating liver-resident T cells—immune cells that halt the parasite’s life cycle inside the liver. This approach could prevent disease spread and protect both endemic and non-endemic populations.
The Power of Federal Support
Mao credits the National Institutes of Health as the cornerstone behind his research.
“The NIH has supported large-scale studies like these for generations and has been critical to research that directly impacts our health today,” he said.
As political discussions increasingly touch on science budgets, Mao emphasizes that cutting NIH funding would directly hinder medical breakthroughs that millions depend on.
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