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Suzie Pun,
Robert F. Rushmer Associate Professor

Research Themes:
Instrumentation, Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy
Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine
Molecular and Cellular Engineering

Suzie PunEducation

PhD (chemical engineering), California Institute of Technology, 2000
MS (chemical engineering), California Institute of Technology, 1998
BS (chemical engineering), Stanford University, 1996

Research Interests

Contact Information

Department of Bioengineering
University of Washington
Box 355061
William H. Foege Building, Room N530P
Phone: 206-685-3488
Fax: 206-543-6124
E-mail
Web site: http://faculty.washington.edu/spun

Research Description

Many current drug delivery designs have made significant improvements in overcoming extracellular barriers (e.g., stability of vehicles, increased circulation in vivo, optimal tissue targeting and delivery). However, the trafficking of delivered material after cellular uptake often remains inefficient. Understanding and overcoming the limitations in intracellular trafficking would therefore have broad applications in the field of drug delivery.

Our research is focused on accomplishing efficient, tissue- and/or organelle-specific delivery of macromolecules and molecular contrast agents.  Specific on-going projects in the laboratory include the development of delivery vehicles (i) for neuron-targeted gene and siRNA delivery for potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, (ii) with improved penetration and efficacy for treatment of solid tumors, (iii) immobilized on solid surfaces or integrated with biocompatible scaffolds for tissue engineering applications and (iv) that can be applied to improve tumor targeting of molecular imaging agents.

Honors & Awards

Selected Publications

Design and evaluation of non-viral gene delivery systems to overcome trafficking barriers
Neuron-targeted gene delivery
Gene delivery to 3-D culture systems
Tissue engineering applications of gene therapy
Development of molecular imaging formulations for in vivo applications