Developing extracellular vesicle therapeutics for aging kidney disease

In the upcoming decades, health care systems are predicted to collapse due to aging-associated diseases. Chronic kidney disease is on the rise in the aging population and currently affects an estimated 1.7M Australians at a cost of $1.9B annually.

Want to help us develop treatments for aging kidney disease? Now is your chance. I have an exciting PhD project in my lab for domestic scholars (Australian citizens/permanent residents) looking to make their mark in the ground-breaking field of extracellular vesicle therapeutics for aging kidney disease.

Extracellular vesicles are small biomolecular packages that are crucial for intercellular communication (locally and systemically). Extracellular vesicles have promising potential to be leveraged and engineered to provide a new paradigm of therapeutics that outperform conventional medicines due to versatile bioactive cargo. The Wolfram Laboratory is leveraging innovations in manufacturing, biological mechanisms, and drug loading (including RNA) of extracellular vesicles to alter the trajectory of aging diabetic kidney disease, improve patient outcomes, and prolong healthy lifespan.

This project involves designing hybrid drug delivery systems with extracellular vesicles and synthetic components for a 'best-of-both-worlds' approach to treat aging kidney disease.

LONG-TERM GOALS

1. Develop a new paradigm of therapeutics (using nanotechnology and cell products) to treat aging kidney disease.
2. Save lives by manufacturing at scale - Deliver national manufacturing innovation and a skilled workforce.
3. Work with a multidisciplinary team and industry partners to position Australia as a global leader in extracellular vesicle medicine.