Research History: My first research work was carried out in the Sanofi-aventis healthcare group (Toulouse, France) during my professional training as engineer. The research subject was focused on tumor angiogenesis and the validation of therapeutic targets for human cancer.

I joined INSERM research unit 643 (Nantes, France) specialized in transplant immunology in 2007 to achieve a Master in Cellular Biology in Dr Béatrice Charreau group. I completed my formation with Ph.D. thesis with financial support of European funding program named Xenome whose aim is to generate the necessary data to allow xenotransplantation to progress towards an initial clinical trial. During three years, I worked on a scientific project designed to explore the role of the signaling adaptor molecule Lnk (SH2B3) in endothelial cell dysfunction associated with transplant rejection. This study demonstrated that modulation of Lnk may be a promising strategy to prevent endothelial cell activation and apoptosis and potentially transplant rejection (Xenotransplantation, 2011). Moreover, I described a new role for Lnk protein as a regulator of the beta1 integrin pathway, influencing adhesion and migration of endothelial cells (FASEB J., under review).

Research Interests: The lack of a sufficient blood vessel system represents the main limitation in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. I work on new methods to promote the formation of vascular network in 3D tissue mimic. In this approach, endothelial cells are transplanted within 3D gel and self-assemble into vessel-like structures in response to growth factors. I test the hypothesis that delivery of specific miRNA or antagomirs, which are regulator of angiogenic process, can further enhance vascular assembly. I use nanoparticles to deliver miRNA to their intracellular targets and test their action in a 3D gel in vitro and in vivo.

Research interests: Vascularization of engineered tissues, pericytes, cell encapsulation, protein delivery Early perfusion is essential for survival and function of engineered tissues. The lack of a functional vascular network is often the limiting factor in tissue engineering and is the reason clinical success in this field has been limited to avascular or thin tissues. My work aims to induce the formation of an extensive and stable vascular network by transplanting endothelial cells within protein gels, a system that can easily be extended the engineering of many tissues. I co-transplant pericytes, a supporting cell in microvessels, to improve maturation and stability of vessels formed. Further, I aim to separate paracrine from contact-dependent signals of pericytes by encapsulating the cells in alginate particles. This allows co-culture with ECs in 3D in vitro culture and in vivo, but prevents PC-EC contact. Other research involves protein delivery to enhance vascular formation.

Research History:
• Special Investigations, Saltzman Lab: Yale University, Fall 2009
• Special Investigations, Kyriakides Lab: Yale University, Spring 2009
• Biomedical Engineering Internship Program (BESIP): National Institutes of Health, Summers 2007 & 2008
• Undergraduate Research Project (URP): Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Fall 2007 – Spring 2008
• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Summer 2006

Teaching Experience:
Teaching Fellow:
1. ENAS 551: Biotransport and Kinetics; Yale University (Falls 2009, 2011)
2. ENAS 535: Biomaterial-Tissue Interactions; Yale University (Spring 2010)
3. BENG 457: Musculoskeletal Biomechanics; Yale University (Spring 2011)

Toward the pursuit of my Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, I research nanoscale delivery systems for gene therapy-based treatment of disease. Specifically, I develop nanoparticles that deliver agents (e.g. miRNA inhibitors, siRNA, and splicing blockers) that regulate the expression of genes that are involved in the onset and progression of cancer.

I am a fifth year PhD student studying novel polymers for gene delivery applications.

I am a clinician and clinical investigator in urologic and gastrointestinal cancers in the department of medical oncology. In the laboratory of Professor Saltzman, I am involved in the development of oncologic products through biotechnology as a PhD candidate in Investigative Medicine. My current research projects include drug delivery to prostate and bladder cancers, as well as preclinical development of a small molecule immunomodulating drug.

Research Interests: Drug delivery, hematopoiesis, hematopoietic stem cells, diseases of the blood and immune system, site-specific gene editing, gene therapy

Publications:
Ali, Nicole, Karlsson, C., Aspling, M., Hu, G., Hacohen, N., Scadden, D.T., Larsson, J. (2009) Forward RNAi screens in primary human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Blood 2009 Apr 16;113(16):3690-5. 2009 Feb 2. PMID: 19188664

Ali, Nicole, Manoharan,V. RNA folding and hydrolysis terms explain ATP-independence of RNA interference in human systems. Oligonucleotides Journal 2009 Nov 9. PMID: 19899950

McNeer, Nicole A., Chin, J.Y., Schleifman, E.B., Fields, R.J., Glazer, P.M., Saltzman, W.M. Nanoparticles Deliver Triplex-forming PNAs for Site-specific Genomic Recombination in CD34(+) Human Hematopoietic Progenitors. Molecular Therapy 2011. PMID: 20859257

McNeer, Nicole A., Schleifman EB, Glazer PM, Saltzman WM. Polymer delivery systems for site-specific genome editing. J Control Release. 2011 May 18. [Epub ahead of print]