Principal Investigator
Niren Murthy
nmurthy@berkeley.edu
Dr. Niren Murthy is a professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Murthy received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in Seattle in Bioengineering in 2001, and then did Postdoctoral research at U.C. Berkeley in Chemistry from 2001-2003. He started his academic career at Georgia Tech in 2003 and in 2012 moved back to U.C. Berkeley. Dr. Murthy’s laboratory is an interdisciplinary laboratory that focuses on the development of new materials for drug delivery and molecular imaging. Murthy laboratory has developed several new biomaterials and imaging agents, such as the maltodextrin based imaging agents, which are focused on improving the treatment and diagnosis of infectious diseases. In addition, Murthy laboratory has developed numerous reagents for detecting radical oxidants, such as the hydrocyanines.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Rohit Sharma
rohit.sharma@berkeley.edu
PhD: University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, San Juan, PR. 2018 (PI, Kai Griebenow)
Area of research: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Postdoctoral Researcher: Comprehensive Cancer Center San Juan, PR. 2019-2021 (PI, Pablo Vivas-Mejia)
Area of research: Genome editing (CRISPR-cas9) technology to study biological roles of protein in ovarian cancer cells, Nanoparticle-based formulation for drug delivery, Applied molecular biology, Noncoding RNAs in glioblastoma
Joined Murthy group: August 2021
Current research: I am working on ligation strategies of oligonucleotides and the delivery of therapeutics using solid-lipid nanoparticles. I am also collaborating with Wilson’s lab on brain editing projects to study various formulations of ribonucleoprotein (RNPs).
Jie Li
lijiesteve@berkeley.edu
2010 Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Nankai University
2010 Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University
2015 PhD, Chemical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles (PI. Yunfeng Lu)
Joined Murthy group: December 2017
My current research focuses on DNA-free genome editing using non viral vector for intracellular delivery of Cas9-RNP. I’m also developing nanoparticles targeting tumor associated macrophages to deliver potential immunotherapeutics to tumor microenvironment.
Hesong Han
hanhesong@berkeley.edu
2017 PhD, Molecular and Genetics biology.
Joined Murthy group: January 2018
I am working on several different projects, from protein evolution to drug screening. Most of my work is based on cell biology and animal model.
Kundansingh Pardeshi
June 2008 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Dr. BAM University, Auranagabad
July 2010 Master of Science in Organic Chemistry, Dr. BAM University, Auranagabad
Oct 2018 PhD, Medicinal Chemistry, (PI. Prof. Harinath Chakrapani), IISER Pune
Jan 2021 Postdoc Photo responsive delivery of therapeutics (PI. Prof. Pradeep Singh), IIT-KGP
Joined Prof Murthy’s Lab in Feb 2021 at the department of bioengineering, UC Berkeley
My current research work in Prof. Murthy’s lab is focused on development of efficient and promising methods for the delivery of mRNA, siRNA, Antisense oligonucleotides and Proteins. Also, I have keen interest in developing the therapeutics for infectious diseases. Enjoining very much my stint as a postdoc with Prof. Murthy. My hobbies are playing chess, trekking, watching cricket, football, some good movies and listening to music.
Sheng Zhao
sheng-zhao@berkeley.edu
2014 Bachelor of Science, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhengzhou University
2020 PhD, Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University
Joined Murthy group: August 2021
My current research focuses on developing new molecules and materials for mRNA stabilization and drug delivery overcoming anti-infectious or anti-viral.
Hansol Kim
hansol_kim@berkeley.edu
2014 Bachelor of Science, Nano-Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
2020 Ph.D., Life Science, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
Joined Murthy group: November 2020
I am currently working on intracellular delivery of functional materials including enzyme and siRNA. I am also making chemically modified oligonucleotides for enhanced in vivo stability and efficacy.
Michael R. Stentzel
michaelstentzel@berkeley.edu
2012 Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Central Michigan University
2019 PhD, Synthetic Chemistry, Northern Illinois University (PI. Douglas A. Klumpp)
Joined Murthy group: March 2020
I am currently developing drug delivery systems, including pH sensitive linkers and modified siRNA, as well as performing medchem on specific protease inhibitors.
Graduate Students
Teena Bajaj
bajajtiya@berkeley.edu
2015 Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Delhi University
2017 Master of Science, Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Started PhD, UC Berkeley: Fall 2017
My research work in the Murthy lab focuses on improving mRNA-based therapeutics.
Visiting Scientist
Rena Yang
renay@berkeley.edu 2021 Bachelor of Science, Bioengineering, UC Berkeley
Joined Murthy group: September 2020
My research involves the design and synthesis of new self-immolative linkers, strategies to deliver Cas9 into cells, and molecular docking to optimize lead compounds targeted against SARS-CoV-2.
Undergraduate Students
Kenneth Loi (undergraduate)
kenjmloi@berkeley.edu
I’m studying molecular and cellular biology and joined Murthy Lab in Oct, 2021. When I’m not at my desk or in the lab, you can find me buried in a book or relaxing with friends and family. My research involves stabilizing the mRNA using modified nucleotides.
Alumni
| Name | Time | Position | Current Position |
| Yumiao Zhang | 2016-2018 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Professor, Tianjin University |
| Chad Altobelli | 2017-2018 | B.S. Student | Undergraduate researcher, Nomura lab |
| Corinne Sadlowski | 2015-2017 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Scientist, R2M Pharma, Inc. |
| Abhinav Acharya | 2012-2015 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Assistant Professor, Arizona State University |
| Jingtuo Zhang | 2015-2017 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Scientist, PaxVax Inc, |
| Bora Park | 2015-2017 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Research Scientist, Impossible Food Inc. |
| Subhamoy Das | 2016-2017 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University |
| Kunwoo Lee | 2011-2016 | Ph.D. Student | GenEdit |
| Vanessa Mackley | 2016-2017 | Master Student | GenEdit |
| Xiaojian Wang | 2013-2016 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Faculty at Nanjing Tech University |
| Giri K. Vegesna | 2015-2016 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Scientist, Profusa Inc |
| Mike Webb | 2013-2014 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Faculty at Montana State University |
| Kiana Aran | 2012- | Postdoctoral Fellow | Faculty at KGI Insititute |
| HyunJin Kim | Postdoctoral Fellow | ||
| Carlo Lo Sterzo | 2013- | Postdoctoral Fellow | |
| Xinghai Ning | 2008- | Postdoctoral Fellow | Faculty at Nanjing University |
| Mikhail Zibinsky | 2012-2014 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Scientist, Flexus Biosciences |
| Jianping Zheng | 2013 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Postdoctoral Fellow, Dophen Biomed |
| Kousik Kundu | 2007-2011 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Senior Scientist, LI-COR Biosciences |
| Madhuri Dasari | 2005-2011 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Jason Lee | 2008-2011 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Research Scientist, Kimberly-Clark |
| John Perng | 2008-2011 | Ph.D. Student | Research Scientist, Siemens |
| Scott Wilson | 2006-2011 | Ph.D. Student | Postdoctoral Fellow, EPFL |
| Khalilah Reddie | 2009-2011 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Lecturer, UMass-Lowell |
| Dongin Kim | 2008-2010 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale |
| Jay C. Sy | 2006-2010 | Ph.D. Student | Faculty at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey |
| Yash Kolambkar | 2010 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgia Tech |
| Alex Cooper | 2010 | Undergraduate | Georgia Tech |
| Chen-Yu Kao | 2007-2009 | Ph.D. Student | Assistant Professor of BME, Taiwan National University of Engineering |
| Sungmun Lee | 2005-2009 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University (UAE) |
| Mike Heffernan | 2003-2008 | Ph.D. Student | Postdoctoral Fellow, NIH | Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine |
| Dongwon Lee | 2006-2008 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Assistant Professor of Material Science, Chonbuk University |
| Stephen Yang | 2003-2008 | Ph.D. Student | Research Scientist, Merck |
| Siraj Khaja | 2005-2007 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Research Scientist, Cambridge Pharmaceuticals |