Distinguished Lecture Series in Regenerative Engineering
Quarterly Event
The QSI RENU Distinguished Lecture Series in Regenerative Engineering features leading investigators and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of regenerative engineering.
The goal of QSI RENU is truly to “engineer the serendipity” that happens every day in our labs, classrooms, and the hallways between them. This lecture series is another method for us to convene our community, learn from extraordinary researchers outside of Northwestern, and catalyze our next rounds of research impact.
Upcoming Lecture
"Targeted Nanotherapeutics for Rare and Genetic Kidney Disease: Toward Restoring Organ Function"
October 2, 2026 | 12-1 p.m. | Simpson Querrey Auditorium (303 E. Superior St., Chicago campus)
Lunch will be provided. Registration is required by September 28 to attend.
Speaker Biography: Eun Ji Chung is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California and the Dr. Karl Jacob Jr. and Karl Jacob III Early Career Chair. She is the Founding Director of the USC Transformative Center for Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery. Dr. Chung has a courtesy appointment in Chemical Engineering, Medicine (Nephrology and Hypertension), Surgery (Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy), and Pharmacy (Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences) at USC, and is an affiliated faculty of the Norris Cancer Center and the Stem Cells department. Her laboratory is interested in developing nano- to macroscale biomaterials that can be utilized in medicine. Dr. Chung received her B.A. with honors in Molecular Biology from Scripps College, her Ph.D. from the Department of Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, and her postdoctoral training from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago. Dr. Chung is a Fellow of BMES, AIMBE, and AHA, and an Associate Editor for Bioactive Materials. She has garnered a variety of honors including the K99/R00 NIH Pathway to Independence Award, AIChE 35 Under 35, NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (DP2), inaugural USC NEMO Prize, and the AHA Transformational Project Award. Currently, her lab takes part in national centers and programs including the NIH U54 Kidney O’Brien Center, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) Exploratory Cell Networks, and AHA Collaborative Sciences Award. She is also a co-founder of Silver Spur Therapeutics, Inc.
Abstract: Targeted nanotherapeutics and gene therapy including lipid nanoparticle-mediated delivery have been successful for a variety of diseases, particularly those that benefit from cargo depot to the liver. Beyond the liver however, effective drug delivery to other organs such as the kidney has been challenging. In this seminar, I will discuss how we can take lessons from natural, physiological processes to design nanotherapeutics that can readily home to organs and targets that have been previously deemed hard-to-reach. By showcasing a wide range of nanoparticles including peptide-based micelles, extracellular vesicles, and lipid nanoparticles, the ability to take advantage of unique aspects of each system will be presented. Additionally, how such carrier systems can deliver siRNA or larger cargo such as mRNA or protein, or how cells can be engineered to be producers of therapeutic carriers, and even how correction in utero can be achieved for rare and genetic diseases will be discussed. In sum, we discuss the promise of biomimetic nanoparticles, the tailored design necessary to match such promise in specific applications, and their potential as next-generation platforms for personalized medicine.