Ramin M. Hakami

Dr. Ramin M. Hakami serves as Associate Professor in the School of Systems Biology within George Mason University's College of Science. His research laboratory investigates fundamental mechanisms of vesicular trafficking and extracellular vesicle (EV) regulation of innate immune responses during infections with Category A pathogens including Yersinia pestis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Rift Valley fever virus, and SARS-CoV-2. Current work focuses on developing host-based countermeasures through EV-mediated immune modulation.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under Nobel Laureate Har Gobind Khorana
• Postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School with NIH NRSA fellowship

Dr. Hakami's research program centers on EV-mediated host-pathogen interactions, specifically how infection-derived EVs (EXi) carry pathogen components to regulate innate immunity. His lab pioneered methods for purifying EXi from infected cells and demonstrated their protective roles through RIG-I-dependent IFN-β activation and autophagy. Current projects include developing microfluidic platforms for real-time EV exchange monitoring and repurposing HSP90 inhibitors for viral infections. The overarching goal is identifying novel therapeutic targets against pathogens lacking effective countermeasures.

Publication analysis reveals dominant themes in EV biology across infectious diseases and neurological disorders. His work bridges virology, bacteriology, and neuroscience with emphasis on EXi-mediated protection, microfluidic EV analysis, and host factor targeting. Key trends include EV cargo characterization during infection, real-time EV tracking methodologies, and therapeutic applications of EV research for high-consequence pathogens.

Scientific Awards:

• 2022 Dean’s Impact Award nominee (College of Science)
• 2016 & 2015 Nominated for GMU OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Award
• 2003 NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence
• 1996 NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
• Multiple undergraduate awards from Stony Brook University

Dr. Hakami secured STTR Phase I and Phase II NIH grants for developing a novel immunotherapeutic platform against toxigenic bacterial pathogens in collaboration with Integrated Biotherapeutics, Inc. and University of Maryland. His mentoring excellence nominations reflect active student supervision, while ongoing projects include transitioning EXi studies to in vivo models for anthrax and melioidosis. Current grant activities focus on advancing EV-based technologies toward investigational new drug (IND) status.

The Hakami Lab operates from the Biomedical Research Lab at GMU's SciTech campus, collaborating with the Center for Infectious Disease Research (CIDR) and Department of Bioengineering. Key initiatives include the EV microfluidic platform development and herbal treatment studies for COVID-19. The lab maintains partnerships with Harvard Medical School, NIH, and industry groups for therapeutic translation, with recent work featured in Mason research news for anthrax breakthroughs and EV vaccine development.