Bruce Alan Sullenger

Surgery, Surgical Sciences

Joseph W. and Dorothy W. Beard Distinguished Professor of Experimental Surgery

Bruce Alan Sullenger Profile Photo
Bruce Alan Sullenger Profile Photo

Bio

The main focus of my translational research laboratory is to develop RNA based therapeutic agents for the potential treatment of a range of diseases. To this end, we have and will continue to take advantage of the fact that RNA is not just a passive carrier of genetic instructions inside of cells during the conversion of information from DNA to RNA to protein. Rather, RNA is an extremely versatile biological macromolecule. Certian RNAs can bind to specific protiens with high affinities, while others can for catalytic centers and perform enzymatic reactions. These facets of RNA coupled with the ease with which RNA can be manipulated in vitro make it a very powerful and unique therapeutic agent whose potential is largely untapped. Durring our endeavors, we plan to work closely with the members of the Molecular Therapeutics program as well as other faculty at the Duke University Medical Center to expedite the development and testing of these therapeutics.

The specific aims of my laboratory are:

1. To isolate and characterize RNA and DNA aptamers which block therapeutically relavent proteins such as those involved in cardiovascular diseases and immune modulation.

2. To develop RNA-based tumor targeting strategies for delivering siRNAs and miRNAs to tumor cells.

3. To reprogram cells using mRNA delivery.

4. To explore novel methods to control inflammation.

Education

  • Ph.D. Cornell University, 1990

Positions

  • Joseph W. and Dorothy W. Beard Distinguished Professor of Experimental Surgery
  • Professor in Surgery
  • Director of the Duke Center for Translational Research
  • Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology
  • Professor of Neurosurgery
  • Professor of Cell Biology
  • Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Professor in Integrative Immunobiology
  • Member of the Duke Cancer Institute

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Fellow (NAI). National Academy of Inventors. 2018
  • AAAS Fellow. American Association for the Advancement of Science. 2014

Courses Taught

  • PHARM 494: Research Independent Study
  • NEUROSCI 494: Research Independent Study 2
  • NEUROSCI 493: Research Independent Study 1

Publications

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