Christoffer Nielsen: Medicine of the future provides targeted delivery

[Translate to English:] Christoffer Nielsen

[Translate to English:] Fluorescens-mikroskopi, der viser tilstedeværelsen af siRNA i celler, der udtrykker en overflademarkør specifik for celletypen makrofag. Cellerne er behandlet med siRNA-antistof hybridmolekyler, der optages i cellerne som følge af interaktioner mellem overflademarkør og antistof. Blå: Cellekerne; Grøn: Cellemembran; Rød: siRNA.

20 April 2012 by Lisbeth Heilesen

In connection with his PhD studies, Christoffer Nielsen investigated opportunities for utilising a class of proteins called antibodies to deliver small interfering RNA molecules (siRNAs) specifically targeting individual types of cells.

siRNAs are small nucleic acid sequences that have the ability to shut down the expression of individual genes, while antibodies are the body’s own ‘missiles’ that target bacteria, viruses and other foreign bodies. By combining antibodies and siRNA, Christoffer Nielsen produced hybrid molecules that can deliver siRNA to specific cells involved in a number of different diseases, including cancer and inflammatory conditions.

His results contribute with a new method for producing such hybrid molecules, as well as valuable knowledge regarding the future development of new medicine based on this approach to the therapeutic use of siRNA.

The PhD degree was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO) and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science and Technology, Aarhus University.

Time: Friday 20 April 2012 at 13.15
Place: Lecture Theatre I, Department of Chemistry, building 1514, room 213
Title of dissertation: Using antibodies for targeted delivery of therapeutic small interfering RNA
Contact information: Christoffer Nielsen, stoffer@inano.au.dk
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Zicai Liang, Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
Associate Professor Stefan Vogel, Nucleic Acid Centre, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark
Associate Professor Duncan Sutherland (chair), iNANO, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Jørgen Kjems, iNANO and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Professor Søren Kragh Moestrup, Department of Biomedicine – Medical Biochemistry, Aarhus University
Language: The dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology / GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, room 112, 8000 Aarhus C.