Lali K. Medina-Kauwe, PhD Research Scientist, Biomedical Sciences
Email: lali.medinakauwe@cshs.org Phone: (310) 423-7339

Academic Appointments

Awards and Activities

Research Focus

Use the cell penetration functions of pathogen proteins to develop novel cell-targeted nanotherapeutics. Study protein-host cell interactions, including endocytic routing, to direct the design of our nanoparticles for improved therapy. Currently testing these particles for cancer targeting and treatment.

Research Contributions

Developed a recombinant protein that can target genes, drugs, and toxic compounds to cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Demonstrated that this protein utilizes multiple distinct routes of cell entry. Discovered a novel cell entry route thru the testing of recombinant soluble viral proteins.

Current investigations include:

Testing targeted drug complexes for ablation of HER2+ tumors in a mouse model of breast cancer. Tumor-targeting immunostimulatory activities of small nucleic acids. Studying nanoparticle cell entry routes to introduce traffic-enhancing modifications for improved therapeutic efficacy.

Selected Publications

1. Medina-Kauwe LK: "Alternative" endocytic mechanisms exploited by pathogens: new avenues for therapeutic delivery?. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev., 59(8): 798-809, 2007
2. Agadjanian H, Weaver JJ, Mahammed A, Rentsendorj A, Bass S, Kim J, Dmochowski IJ, Margalit R, Gray HB, Gross Z, Medina-Kauwe LK: Specific delivery of corroles to cells via noncovalent conjugates with viral proteins. Pharm. Res., 23(2): 367-77, 2006
3. Rentsendorj A, Xie J, MacVeigh M, Agadjanian H, Bass S, Kim DH, Rossi J, Hamm-Alvarez SF, Medina-Kauwe LK: Typical and atypical trafficking pathways of Ad5 penton base recombinant protein: implications for gene transfer. Gene Ther., 13(10): 821-36, 2006
4. Medina-Kauwe LK, Xie J, Hamm-Alvarez S: Intracellular trafficking of nonviral vectors. Gene Ther., 12(24): 1734-51, 2005
5. Rentsendorj A, Agadjanian H, Chen X, Cirivello M, Macveigh M, Kedes L, Hamm-Alvarez S, Medina-Kauwe LK: The Ad5 fiber mediates nonviral gene transfer in the absence of the whole virus, utilizing a novel cell entry pathway. Gene Ther., 12(3): 225-37, 2005
6. Medina-Kauwe LK, Maguire M, Kasahara N, Kedes L: Nonviral gene delivery to human breast cancer cells by targeted Ad5 penton proteins. Gene Ther., 8(23): 1753-61, 2001