EUEmory University · Biomedical Engineering
mRNA Antiviral Innovations Lab
Philip J Santangelo · Atlanta, Georgia
Research Focus
Dr. Philip Santangelo's lab at Emory University focuses on developing innovative mRNA-based treatments for viral infections, including respiratory viruses and HIV. Their research aims to create effective antiviral therapies using a programmable RNA-targeting enzyme called Cas13, which can specifically degrade viral RNA. By exploring new ways to deliver these therapies, particularly to the female reproductive tract, they hope to enhance the prevention and treatment of infections like influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and HIV.
mRNA therapyCas13antiviral drugsHIV preventionrespiratory virusesbroadly neutralizing antibodiesflavivirus treatmentmucosal immunitytransient gene expressionviral RNA targeting
Research Aims
5AIM 01Develop mRNA-encoded antivirals targeting respiratory viruses such as RSV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2.
AIM 02Create a mRNA-based approach for the female reproductive tract to express broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV.
AIM 03Evaluate the efficacy of Cas13 against a range of flavivirus infections in rodent models.
AIM 04Optimize delivery methods for sustained expression of protective antibodies in vivo.
AIM 05Investigate the mechanisms of action of Cas13 for various viral targets.
Skills the Lab Values
mRNA delivery techniquesmolecular cloninggene editing with Cas13cell cultureanimal modelsaerosol delivery methodsimmunoassaysvirology techniquesprotein engineeringin vivo imaging
Output against the department
Publications180bottom 41% of dept.350th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.6ktop 46% of dept.273rd of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.