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Kathryn Whitehead

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Kathryn Ann Whitehead
Born1980 (age 43–44)
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Alma materUniversity of Delaware
University of California, Santa Barbara
Scientific career
InstitutionsKoch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
Carnegie Mellon University
ThesisSafe and effective methods for improving the oral delivery of macromolecules (2007)
Websitehttp://whitehead.cheme.cmu.edu

Kathryn Ann Whitehead (born 1980) is an American chemical engineer who is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research considers the development of nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems for gene therapy,[1] oral macromolecular delivery systems,[2] and maternal and infant therapeutics.[3] She is an elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2021[4] and Fellow of the Controlled Release Society.[5]

Early life and education

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Whitehead is from Allentown, Pennsylvania.[6] She earned her bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at the University of Delaware,[6] then moved to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she studied methods to improve the oral delivery of macromolecules.[7] Whitehead was a postdoctoral researcher at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, where she worked alongside Robert S. Langer on RNA interference therapeutics.[8]

Research and career

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Whitehead's research considers the development of drug delivery systems for gene therapy.[9] She is interested in the development of nanoparticle materials to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) to specific cells.[10] Targeted mRNA delivery provides physicians with a personalized strategy to treat genetic disorders.[11] Alongside mRNA, Whitehead has studied small interfering RNA, which can be used to control gene expression.[12] In general, mRNA promotes gene expression, whilst siRNA is used to silence over-expressed genes.[13] She focuses on the development of delivery systems for leukocytes (including B cells) and intestinal epithelium.[6][14] A challenge with using mRNA for therapeutic purposes is that the body often recognizes intruder mRNA and attacks it, triggering an immune response.[13] She worked with Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman on the development of the lipid nanoparticles that enabled the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines.[15][16]

In an attempt to better design drug delivery systems, Whitehead has investigated the cellular components of breast milk.[17][18] She is interested in whether it is possible to genetically engineer cells to treat children's allergies, or orally administer vaccines to infants.[17]

Whitehead is passionate about science communication and improving public trust in science.[19] In 202, she delivered a TED talk on lipid nanoparticles and how mRNA will transform biology.[20] In 2022, Whitehead delivered the convocation address at the Carnegie Mellon University.[21]

Awards and honors

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Selected publications

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  • Kathryn A Whitehead; Robert Langer; Daniel G Anderson (1 February 2009). "Knocking down barriers: advances in siRNA delivery". Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 8 (2): 129–138. doi:10.1038/NRD2742. ISSN 1474-1776. PMC 7097568. PMID 19180106. Wikidata Q37380671.
  • Kathryn A Whitehead; J Robert Dorkin; Arturo J Vegas; et al. (27 June 2014). "Degradable lipid nanoparticles with predictable in vivo siRNA delivery activity". Nature Communications. 5: 4277. Bibcode:2014NatCo...5.4277W. doi:10.1038/NCOMMS5277. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 4111939. PMID 24969323. Wikidata Q33954008.
  • Khalid A. Hajj; Kathryn A. Whitehead (12 September 2017). "Tools for translation: non-viral materials for therapeutic mRNA delivery". Nature Reviews Materials. 2 (10): 17056. doi:10.1038/NATREVMATS.2017.56. ISSN 2058-8437. Wikidata Q56057560.

References

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  1. ^ "Kathryn Whitehead: mRNA offers potential new treatment for pancreatic diseases". YouTube. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Katie Whitehead: Advanced Nanoparticle Research for Drug Delivery". Carnegie Mellon University. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. ^ "carnegie mellon kathryn whitehead - YouTube". Carnegie Mellon University. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Kathryn Whitehead, Ph.D. COF-6152 - AIMBE". AIMBE. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. ^ "College of Fellows Award Recipients". Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Kathryn Whitehead". engineering.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  7. ^ Whitehead, Kathryn Ann (2007). "Safe and effective methods for improving the oral delivery of macromolecules". worldcat.org. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  8. ^ "Kathryn A. Whitehead - Biomedical Engineering". Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  9. ^ Katie Whitehead: Advanced Nanoparticle Research for Drug Delivery, 2 July 2014, retrieved 2022-09-04
  10. ^ "Kathryn Whitehead: How can we safely deliver vaccines to the right cells?". NPR.org. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  11. ^ a b University, Carnegie Mellon. "Whitehead Wins DARPA Young Faculty Award - News - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  12. ^ a b "Kathryn Whitehead". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  13. ^ a b University, Carnegie Mellon. "Whitehead's Research Could Revolutionize Medicine with Cutting-Edge Science - News - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  14. ^ Pittsburgh, A. Carnegie Mellon University Publication 5000 Forbes Avenue; Pa 15213268-2000. "What if..." Carnegie Mellon Today. Retrieved 2022-09-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Smedley, Tim. "Could mRNA make us superhuman?". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  16. ^ "Without these lipid shells, there would be no mRNA vaccines". cen.acs.org. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  17. ^ a b University, Carnegie Mellon (6 July 2022). "Mother's Milk Cells Key to Novel Infant Disease Therapy - News - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  18. ^ Gleeson, John P.; Chaudhary, Namit; Fein, Katherine C.; Doerfler, Rose; Hredzak-Showalter, Patricia; Whitehead, Kathryn A. (July 2022). "Profiling of mature-stage human breast milk cells identifies six unique lactocyte subpopulations". Science Advances. 8 (26): eabm6865. Bibcode:2022SciA....8M6865G. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abm6865. ISSN 2375-2548. PMC 9242445. PMID 35767604.
  19. ^ "Personalities of Pittsburgh: Dr. Kathryn Whitehead is on the cutting edge of vaccine development". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  20. ^ Whitehead, Kathryn A. "Kathryn A. Whitehead | Speaker | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  21. ^ University, Carnegie Mellon (26 August 2022). "Convocation Inspires New Class - News - Carnegie Mellon University". www.cmu.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  22. ^ Medicine, The McGowan Institute For Regenerative (3 March 2021). "Drs. Adam Feinberg and Kathryn Whitehead Elected AIMBE 2021 Fellows". Regenerative Medicine at the McGowan Institute. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  23. ^ "Kathryn Whitehead, Ph.D. COF-6152 - AIMBE". Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  24. ^ "Brilliant 10: Kathryn Whitehead Designs Drugs To Wipe Out Disease". Popular Science. 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  25. ^ "Curtis W. McGraw Research Award". www.asee.org. Retrieved 2022-09-04.


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