Dr. Alexander Marras from the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and Texas Materials Engineering has been awarded a $1.9 million NIH R35 MIRA grant over five years.
The project, titled "Expanding the Design Space of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles," aims to develop quantitative design rules for structural properties, delivery capabilities, and dynamic behavior of polyelectrolyte complex micelles (PCMs), which are polymeric nanoparticles for RNA delivery. This research will provide a foundation for tailored PCMs with predictive properties designed for specific treatments.
About MIRA
The MIRA (Maximizing Investigators' Research Award) program, supported by NIGMS, aims to increase the efficiency of NIGMS funding by providing investigators with greater stability and flexibility. This enhances scientific productivity and the potential for significant breakthroughs while distributing funding more widely among the nation's promising investigators. MIRA grants are generally for five years and are available to established investigators, new investigators, and early-stage investigators who meet specific criteria.
Dr. Alexander Marras' Background
Dr. Marras received his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, where he worked with Carlos Castro in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His graduate research in structural DNA nanotechnology established a framework for DNA-based mechanical mechanisms and methods for their rapid actuation. During his PhD, he received multiple awards, including the Presidential Fellowship and Best Poster Award at the Foundations of Nanoscience conference.
After completing his PhD, Marras joined Matthew Tirrell’s research group as a postdoctoral researcher at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at The University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory. His postdoctoral studies focused on charged polymer assembly with biomolecules and structural characterization of nanomaterials using various advanced techniques. He also consulted with SiO2 Materials Science to understand the effect of packaging and storage conditions on COVID-19 vaccines.
In August 2022, Dr. Marras joined The University of Texas at Austin as an Assistant Professor in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and affiliated faculty member with the Texas Materials Institute. His research group at UT Austin specializes in biomolecular self-assembly, using tunable soft materials for nanoscale engineering, with a focus on nucleic acid delivery, DNA-based actuators, and smart biohybrid materials.
For more information, visit the Marras research group website.
