The Chinnapen Lab focuses on both the development of novel technologies to deliver biologics drugs across cellular membrane barriers, and to better understand the cellular mechanisms that underpin this transcellular transport. There are two major problems faced in biotechnological drug development: 1) lack of transport for biologics across the blood-brain-barrier, and 2) lack of oral bioavailability of large therapeutic peptides. The lab is currently developing technology to improve existing approaches for the treatment of rare genetic lysosomal disorders, such as Tay-Sachs and Fabry diseases, and to deliver biologics across cellular barriers (endothelial and epithelial) as a platform approach for the development of oral biologics and for transport across the blood-brain-barrier.
Research is driven by our ongoing and relentless quest to improve patient care.