Dr. Muhammad Nawaz is a Senior Researcher at the Meisner-Kober Lab, where his work focuses on the delivery of therapeutic oligonucleotides and RNA editing mechanisms. Traditional RNA-based therapeutics function either by silencing pathological genes or expressing therapeutic proteins with the delivery of siRNA or exogenous mRNA to cells, respectively. However, RNA editing, which works by making discrete changes in the genetic codes, takes the RNA therapeutics to the next level. This is truly an interesting area of research, which holds great potential for the treatment of various genetic diseases including metabolic, neurodegenerative, and infectious diseases, as well as cancers. He is investigating the mechanisms of RNA editing using cell models of various diseases. He has received various research grants and has participated in several international conferences. Furthermore, he participates in teaching and supervision and serves as editor and reviewer for various scientific journals.

He completed his PhD at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, where he studied the role of microRNAs and extracellular vesicles in the malignant progression of gliomas (brain tumors) at the Luciano Neder Lab. He also had a PhD exchange at the Hadi Valadi Lab, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, followed by a 6-years  Postdoctoral research. During his 7 years’ stay at the Valadi Lab he investigated numerous aspects of RNA transport via EVs. He worked with various projects in collaboration with AstraZeneca where the focus of his research has been the loading and delivery of therapeutic RNAs to cells via EVs and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). He contributed new methods and tools of loading of therapeutic RNAs into EVs and delivery to target cells, which have been published in top tier peer reviewed international journals. He has also been involved in the consortium of “Industrial Research Centre (IRC) for functional RNA delivery — FormulaEx” established between different Universities and Biotech companies in Sweden.