Nano-Engineering Gone #Viral
Steinmetz Lab Mission + Vision
The Steinmetz Lab’s Mission is to push new frontiers in two primary focus areas: Human Health and Plant Health through design, development and testing of nanomaterials and biologics derived from plant viruses. Our Vision is the translation of promising candidates into clinical and commercial applications.
Human Heath: Translational Research
Our approach is to redesign and repurpose naturally occurring nanoparticles derived from plant viruses. Plant viruses can be regarded as nature's nanomaterials - evolved to assemble with atomic precision to package and deliver cargo.
Through synthetic biology and chemical programming and assembly, plant viruses can be repurposed with new functionalities. Learn more about our health research.
Molecular Farming: Harnessing Plants for Innovation
For centuries, microorganisms and plants have played a crucial role in food and pharmaceutical industries — powering fermentation and enabling the production of essential medicines. Now, we are expanding the potential of plant molecular farming to address global challenges. Our work focuses on enhancing plant traits for sustainable agriculture while also engineering plants to produce high-value pharmaceuticals.
In The News
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$5M In Funding to Use Plant Viruses to Fight Cancer and Save Crops
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Cowpea Virus Immunotherapy Prevents Cancer Metastases
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UCSD Researchers Develop Spherical Nanoparticles from Plant Viruses to Treat Pests
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Nanoparticles Made from Plant Viruses Could Be Farmers’ New Ally in Pest Control
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Three Entrepreneurial UC San Diego Faculty Members To Join National Academy of Inventors
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Center for Engineering in Cancer Takes Off
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Nanoengineers Receive $4.3M From NIH To Continue Studies Using Plant Viruses To Treat Cancer
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Professor Steinmetz named as one Top Women in Academic Entrepreneurship
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Nicole F. Steinmetz, Gold Talk 2024 awardee, claims in Vigo the importance of "not giving up" in research
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Nicole Steinmetz Awarded $2.6 Million NIH Grant for Cardiovascular Disease Research
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2025 AIM Award Recipients Rise to the Top
Accelerating Innovation to Market program selects awardees for the new year
View Article -
Engineers Take a Closer Look at How a Plant Virus Primes the Immune System to Fight Cancer
Contact Us
Nicole F. Steinmetz, Ph.D.
Leo and Trude Szilard Chancellor's Endowed Chair; Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering Department
Founding Director of the Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering (nanoIE)
Co-Director for Center in Engineering Cancer (CEC) under the Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM)
University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Our laboratories are located in Franklin Antonio Hall (FAH) Building and Jacobs Hall (EBU1).
Email us
[email protected]
LinkedIn
Nicole F. Steinmetz Ph.D.
Steinmetz Lab Website
steinmetzlab.com
Please also visit:
jacobsschool.ucsd.edu
nanoie.uscd.edu
https://iem.ucsd.edu
