Molecular Pharmaceutics & Drug Delivery

B.J. Kim, Ph.D., and the Kimmunity Lab have received their first research award: the 2025 Peg's Fight for Life Early Career Research Award from the A Breath of Hope Lung Cancer Foundation. Their funded project develops programmable RNA therapies to tackle immune resistance in EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer, aiming to convert "cold" tumors into ones that respond to treatment. With this support, they'll drive forward their RNA immunotherapy platform, expand their team and build new collaborations.

Zhengrong Cui, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery and Alfred and Dorothy Mannino Fellow in Pharmacy, is among the UT faculty awarded TRC4 grants. His project focuses on developing dry powders of whole blood to improve storage and transport for trauma care. This innovative approach could expand access to life-saving transfusions in emergency situations.

This month we highlight second-year student pharmacist Molly Levine and her research as part of the College of Pharmacy's Pharm.D. Honors Research Program.

The graduate portfolio program in pharmacoengineering is an interdisciplinary effort that bridges expertise in pharmaceutics, chemistry, engineering, biochemistry, biologics and drug metabolism. The goal is to use new technology to develop next-generation, personalized treatments to ensure patients receive optimal dosages delivered to the precise part of the body that needs help — reducing harmful side effects and increasing their efficacy. The program is a collaboration between the Cockrell School of Engineering, College of Natural Sciences and College of Pharmacy.