Prof. Rein Ulijn and His Team Has Designed a Protein Preservation Method Could Transform Global Health!
Imagine a world where life-saving vaccines and therapeutics can be easily transported and stored, even in the most remote corners of the globe, without the need for costly refrigeration. Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship (VBFF) fellow, Prof. Rein Ulijn, his team at the Advanced Science Research Center, GC/CUNY , and Co-Lead Prof. Ye He , CUNY ASRC Neuroscience Initiative and are making that vision a reality!
The teams' latest breakthrough, published in Nature Materials (see link below), showcases a groundbreaking technique that utilizes simple, three-amino-acid peptides to mimic nature's protein-protecting strategies during desiccation. The result? Proteins are encapsulated and shielded during drying, ready to be rehydrated and fully functional when needed.
This is game-changing because:
- Accessibility: Drastically reduces the logistical challenges and expenses associated with cold-chain storage and transport.
- Scalability: The method uses readily available and inexpensive materials, making it easily scalable for widespread use.
- Stability: Provides excellent protein protection, ensuring efficacy even in challenging environments.
- Innovation: Demonstrates the power of bio-inspired design to address global challenges.
Research Article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-025-02300-z
This work is supported by Basic Research Office (Under the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research & Engineering), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.