Malgorzata Maria Pakula-Cis: Design of Improved siRNA for Therapeutic Applications

During her PhD studies, Malgorzata Maria Pakula-Cis investigated the performance of chemically modified siRNA. siRNA – small interfering RNA – is the main intermediate in the RNA interference process, controlling gene expression at the mRNA level.

Malgorzata Maria Pakula-Cis studied how siRNA modifications can improve efficiency and stability in serum, decrease toxicity and non-specific gene targeting, and reduce immunogenicity. In her studies, she mainly explored LNA-modified siRNA (locked nucleic acid) and UNA-modified siRNA (unlocked nucleic acid), with a focus on the immune-stimulating properties of duplexes.

The new research findings contribute to the understanding of how the siRNA duplex modifications can be utilised to improve gene silencing performance in future therapeutic applications.

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

Time: Tuesday 19 June 2012 at 13.15
Place: Building 1525, room 223, Aarhus University
Title of dissertation: Improvement of siRNA performance with chemical modifications and targeted delivery of anti-CD44-Ab/siRNA conjugates to breast cancer stem cells
Contact information: Malgorzata Maria Pakula-Cis, mpakula@inano.dk, +45 2651 4430
Members of the assessment committee:
Dr José Carlos Perales Losa, Department of Physiological Sciences II, University of Barcelona, Spain
Associate Professor Henrik Leffers, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen
Professor Jan J. Enghild (chair), iNANO and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Jørgen Kjems, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), 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.