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About

Engineered mRNA and Targeted Nanomedicine Core

Overview of Services

The Engineered mRNA and targeted nanomedicine core is designed to address infrastructural barrier to clinical and translational research in gene therapy, vaccine development (cancer and infectious disease), stem cell reprograming, and other non-viral gene therapy based applications by providing high quality in vitro transcribed messenger RNA (IVT-mRNA) and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Our goal and focus are to lower the experimental barriers to PIs interested in exploring the mRNA technology, and lipid nanoparticles for various applications including tissue and cell targeting. We currently offer the following services:

  • Optimization and production of in vitro transcribed mRNA.
  • Small and large scale production of sequence optimized in vitro transcribed mRNA.
  • Incorporation of modified nucleosides to modulate activity.
  • Off the shelf in vitro transcribed mRNA encoding reporter genes (i.e. eGFP, mCherry, and Luc), or cancer antigens (i.e. OVA).
  • Encapsulation into proprietary (i.e. MC3, KC2 …) and non-proprietary lipid nanoparticles (i.e. DOTAP…).
  • Surface modification of mRNA-LNPs for targeted delivery into specific tissues and cells.
  • Labelled mRNA (i.e. Cy 5.5), labelled -LNPs (i.e. DiL, DiO, DiI), and Labelled mRNA-LNP (Dual labelling) for nanoparticle tracking and microscopy.

The core also offers self-replicating mRNA (non-nucleoside modified mRNA) as an alternative to the canonical IVT mRNA. 

To ensure that all inquiries and requests are properly received and tracked, please submit them through the iLab system.  

Users who do not yet have an iLab account must create one and complete the required registration steps before submitting any service requests.  The account creation process is quick and straightforward, and most users are able to complete registration within just a few minutes. 

Appropriate account numbers or purchase orders must be fully established and approved in iLab prior to the initiation of any work.  Requests submitted without complete billing information cannot be processed.

If you run into any issues while using iLab, please contact the iLab support team:  https://help.ilab.agilent.com/35322-ilab-helpsite
 

Location and hours of operation

Hours Location

Monday - Friday

9AM - 5PM          

4072 One uCity Square

25 N. 38th Street

Philadelphia, PA, 19104

Philadelphia region requests: Pickup only, no deliveries 

Links and Resources

  1. mRNA Core Official Website

Contacts

Name Role Phone Email Location
Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh
Core Director
 

 
Mg.Alameh@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
 
One uCity Square, 25 N. 38th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
 
Garima Dwivedi
Associate Director
 

 
mRNACore_Orders@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
 
One uCity Square, 25 N. 38th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
 
Marjorie Candalla
Associate Director, Administration & Finance
 

 
candalla@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
 
One uCity Square, 25 N. 38th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
 
Benjamin Davis
User Facility Director, AIRFoundry
 

 
benjamin.davis@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
 
One uCity Square, 25 N. 38th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104