Christian Kastrup

Christian Kastrup, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin, with a focus on Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. He holds the Ziegler Family Chair for Research and serves as a Senior Investigator at the Versiti Blood Research Institute. His work bridges biochemistry, engineering, and surgery to address unmet needs in hemostasis and thrombosis. Key research areas include RNA-based therapies for clot regulation, genetically modified platelets, and novel hemostatic materials.

Education:

• PhD in Chemistry from University of Chicago (2008)
• Postdoctoral Training at MIT (2011)

Research Focus: Development of mRNA lipid nanoparticles for platelet engineering, lipid nanoparticle delivery systems, and self-propelling hemostatic agents. His lab investigates fibrinogen regulation in trauma, soil-activated coagulation pathways, and FXIII's role in clot stability. Over 20 peer-reviewed publications since 2023 highlight advancements in RNA therapeutics and traumatic hemorrhage control.

Grants:

• DoD Projects: Hemostatic Gauze Development, Thrombin Powder Translation (2020–2026)
• NIH R01: Antifibrinolytic RNA Therapy (2023–2028)

Lab Team: Includes graduate students, postdocs, and clinical residents specializing in biochemistry, biomedical engineering, and surgical research. Current projects include propelling therapeutic microparticles, FEIBA alternatives, and soil-microbe interactions in wound healing.