Research Spotlight
Dr. John F. Engelhardt research focuses on the molecular basis of CF and the development of gene therapies for the disease. Notably, Dr. Engelhardt's laboratory was the first to clone ferrets, creating new animal models that have enhanced the study of CF pathologies and potential treatments.
Research Papers
Durable transgene expression and efficient re-administration after rAAV2.5T-mediated fCFTRDR gene delivery to adult ferret lungs by Yinghua Tang - Anatomy and Cell Biolgy
Pilot Programs
Pilot programs provides seed money for research that has not yet reached the stage of maturity necessary for funding by traditional NIH mechanisms such as RO1s and PO1s. Such research ideas should be considered innovative and may potentially be high risk.
Latest Publications
LUNAR LNP delivery of CFTR mRNA restores channel function and improves mucociliary clearance in ferret cystic fibrosis airways
Thursday, December 25, 2025
Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based delivery of CFTR mRNA holds promise for treating pulmonary manifestations of cystic fibrosis (CF). LUNAR-CFTR is a novel proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) encapsulating codon-optimized human CFTR mRNA for CFTR replacement therapy. In this study, we examined the potential of LUNAR-CFTR for delivering mRNA and restoring CFTR function in primary human and ferret airway epithelia and mucus-laden CF ferret airways. LUNAR effectively delivered CFTR, Cre, and tdTomato...
News
University of Iowa physician–scientist receives prestigious Lasker Award
Thursday, September 11, 2025
