Presented By: Chemical Engineering
ChE SEMINAR: Elizabeth Nance, University of Washington
Designing Neuroprotective Therapies for the Developing Brain
A reception with light refreshments will be held in the B10 lobby before each seminar from 1-1:30 p.m.
Abstract:
Therapeutics for neonatal and pediatric populations often lag years behind adult treatments, leaving clinicians to rely on off-label use of adult drugs. This gap underscores the urgent need for technologies tailored to the unique physiology of newborns and children, particularly for conditions involving the brain. Our research addresses this challenge by engineering microphysiological models that replicate the complexity of the brain microenvironment and enable systematic evaluation of therapeutic strategies. In this talk, I will highlight how we use physiologically relevant models to inform the design of neuroprotective strategies for neonatal and pediatric brain diseases. I will show a few case studies of leveraging these models to screen therapeutics, including the use of nanotechnology platforms for small molecule delivery, to advance their use in the clinic. By bridging engineering, neuroscience, and data science, our goal is to close the technology gap for children’s therapeutics and improve neurological health across the lifespan.
Bio:
Dr. Elizabeth Nance is the Steven & Connie Rogel Endowed Professor & Department Chair of Chemical Engineering at UW, Professor of Bioengineering, and Adjunct Professor in Radiology. Elizabeth received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from NC State University, and her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering with Dr. Justin Hanes, with a focus on nanotherapies for brain cancer. She completed a postdoc with Dr. Sujatha Kannan in Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, with training in neuroscience and animal model development. Elizabeth has received the Presidential Early Career Achievement in Science & Engineering (PECASE) award, the UW Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, an NIGMS R35 MIRA award, and the Burroughs Wellcome Career Award. She was a finalist for the 2025 Blavatnik National Award for Life Sciences and was named to the College of Fellows for the Controlled Release Society. Elizabeth serves as the Editor in Chief for Bioengineering & Translational Medicine and is a mentor with Invent@Seattle Children’s to support commercialization of therapeutics for kids.
Abstract:
Therapeutics for neonatal and pediatric populations often lag years behind adult treatments, leaving clinicians to rely on off-label use of adult drugs. This gap underscores the urgent need for technologies tailored to the unique physiology of newborns and children, particularly for conditions involving the brain. Our research addresses this challenge by engineering microphysiological models that replicate the complexity of the brain microenvironment and enable systematic evaluation of therapeutic strategies. In this talk, I will highlight how we use physiologically relevant models to inform the design of neuroprotective strategies for neonatal and pediatric brain diseases. I will show a few case studies of leveraging these models to screen therapeutics, including the use of nanotechnology platforms for small molecule delivery, to advance their use in the clinic. By bridging engineering, neuroscience, and data science, our goal is to close the technology gap for children’s therapeutics and improve neurological health across the lifespan.
Bio:
Dr. Elizabeth Nance is the Steven & Connie Rogel Endowed Professor & Department Chair of Chemical Engineering at UW, Professor of Bioengineering, and Adjunct Professor in Radiology. Elizabeth received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from NC State University, and her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering with Dr. Justin Hanes, with a focus on nanotherapies for brain cancer. She completed a postdoc with Dr. Sujatha Kannan in Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, with training in neuroscience and animal model development. Elizabeth has received the Presidential Early Career Achievement in Science & Engineering (PECASE) award, the UW Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, an NIGMS R35 MIRA award, and the Burroughs Wellcome Career Award. She was a finalist for the 2025 Blavatnik National Award for Life Sciences and was named to the College of Fellows for the Controlled Release Society. Elizabeth serves as the Editor in Chief for Bioengineering & Translational Medicine and is a mentor with Invent@Seattle Children’s to support commercialization of therapeutics for kids.
Related Links
Explore Similar Events
-
Loading Similar Events...
