Lukas Farbiak

Lukas Farbiak is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UT Southwestern Medical Center. His research focuses on developing non-viral carriers for therapeutic genetic medicines such as mRNA, siRNA, and CRISPR/Cas9 systems, with a particular emphasis on in vivo gene editing and organ-specific delivery mechanisms. He completed a B.S. in Neuroscience (Baylor University, 2013), M.S. in Medical Science (UNT Health Science Center, 2014), and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering (UT Southwestern, 2021), followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in the Siegwart Lab (2023).

• Education:
• B.S. Neuroscience (Baylor University, 2013)
• M.S. Medical Science (UNT Health Science Center, 2014)
• Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering (UT Southwestern, 2021)

His research interests include engineering lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for targeted mRNA delivery, optimizing CRISPR-based gene editing tools, and advancing therapeutic strategies for genetic disorders and cancer. Key innovations involve the development of SORT nanoparticles for tissue-specific targeting and all-in-one dendrimer-based LNPs for precise gene editing.

Recent publications highlight advancements in membrane-destabilizing phospholipids, in situ protein production for dermatitis and melanoma treatment, and overcoming anti-PEG antibody challenges in repeated mRNA administration. His work bridges materials science and clinical applications, aiming to improve delivery efficiency and reduce off-target effects.

Farbiak collaborates extensively on projects involving organ-selective delivery, immunogenicity reduction, and CRISPR-Cas systems. His contributions have been published in high-impact journals like ACS Nano, Adv. Mater., and Nature Nanotechnology.