Neurology Research Groups
Gupta Group
Research Aims & Objectives
Next-generation delivery technologies for gene editing and RNA therapeutics
Our goal is to overcome a central barrier in modern medicine: safe and precise delivery of genetic medicines beyond the liver, particularly to the brain, heart, and inflamed tissues.
What We Do:
Engineering Extracellular Vesicles (EVs)
We design EV-based systems to deliver RNA, proteins, and gene-editing tools with improved tissue selectivity and reduced immunogenicity.
In Vivo EV Reprogramming
Using AAV and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), we transiently reprogram tissues such as the liver to act as biofactories that produce therapeutic EVs in vivo.
Next-Generation Targeting Strategies
We use multi-omics approaches to identify novel, tissue-enriched receptors and develop de novo designed binding molecules to target them. These ligands are deployed across LNPs, EVs, and bioconjugates to redirect therapeutics beyond default liver tropism.
Precision Gene Editing Delivery
We develop modular systems for CRISPR-Cas RNPs and RNA therapeutics with a focus on safety, specificity, and clinical translation.
Long-Term Goal:
Our vision is to build programmable, tissue-targeted delivery platforms that unlock the full therapeutic potential of gene and RNA medicines across neurological, inflammatory, and rare genetic diseases.
Details of research interests
Our research centres on the development of next-generation delivery systems for gene editing and RNA therapeutics, with a particular focus on overcoming extrahepatic barriers to delivery.
Scientific Focus
- Mechanisms of nanoparticle and extracellular vesicle (EV) biodistribution, clearance, and cellular uptake
- Receptor-mediated targeting biology, using multi-omics datasets to identify tissue-enriched surface proteins
- De novo design of binding molecules (peptides, nanobodies, and synthetic ligands) for precision targeting
- Programmable and disease-responsive gene circuits for controlled therapeutic production in vivo
- Delivery of CRISPR-Cas RNPs, mRNA, and RNA therapeutics with improved safety and specificity
Disease Areas
Our platforms are applied to diseases where delivery remains a major limitation, including:
- Neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders
- Inflammatory bowel disease and systemic inflammatory conditions
- Inherited rare genetic diseases
- Cardiovascular and extrahepatic disorders
Biological Systems & Technologies
We combine:
- Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and hybrid delivery systems
- AAV- and mRNA-based transient reprogramming strategies
- Directed evolution and synthetic biology approaches
- Advanced in vitro systems including human iPSC-derived models and 3D organoids
- Preclinical in vivo models to evaluate biodistribution, targeting, and therapeutic efficacy
Unique Focus
What distinguishes our group is the integration of receptor discovery, de novo binder design, EV engineering, and synthetic gene circuits into a unified, modular delivery platform. Rather than optimizing a single carrier, we build adaptable systems that can be retargeted across tissues and diseases.
Position within IDRM
Our work contributes a core enabling technology within the IDRM: precision delivery. By providing programmable platforms for targeted genetic intervention, we support regenerative, inflammatory, and neurological research programmes across the Institute, helping translate mechanistic discoveries into therapeutic strategies.
Group Leader
Group Members
Post-doctoral researchers:
- Chloe Howells
PhD Students:
- Catherine Bouldart
- Emily Haughton
- Hayato Minamiguchi
- Shuyang Wu
- Dongnan Yan
Research Assistant:
- Simon Chester
Collaborators
Collaborators - Oxford:
Collaborators - External:
- Karim Benabdel, Genyo Granda
- Samir El Andaloussi, Karolinska Institutet
- Vasilis Kosmoliaptsis, University of Cambridge
- Peter Neujsm, Aarhus University
Funders
- Biotechnology and Biological Research Council (BBSRC)
- British Heart Foundation (BHF) CureHeart
- Kidney Research UK
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)-Therapeutic Genomics Core
Public Engagement
We believe that advances in gene editing and RNA therapeutics must be accompanied by clear, responsible, and accessible public dialogue. Our group is committed to communicating the science, opportunities, and ethical considerations of genetic medicine beyond the research community.
Outreach & Education
Public lectures and science festivals: we participate in university open days, public seminars, and science outreach events to explain how gene editing and RNA medicines work, and how delivery technologies enable them.
School engagement: we host secondary school visits and offer laboratory tours to introduce students to biomedical research and careers in science.
Undergraduate and postgraduate mentoring: we actively supervise student research projects and provide training in translational science and biotechnology innovation.
Communicating Emerging Technologies
Our work involves CRISPR, RNA therapeutics, and nanoparticle delivery, so we place strong emphasis on:
- Explaining benefits and limitations of gene editing in clear, balanced terms
- Discussing safety, regulatory, and ethical considerations
- Addressing misconceptions around genetic technologies
Our place in the IDRM Community
Being part of the IDRM significantly strengthens our research mission. Our work focuses on precision delivery technologies that enable gene editing and RNA therapeutics to reach specific tissues; IDRM provides a uniquely interdisciplinary environment where developmental biology, immunology, stem cell science, and translational medicine intersect—creating the ideal ecosystem to test and refine these delivery platforms in biologically relevant systems.
Enhancing Our Research
The IDRM offers:
- Access to expertise in inflammation, regeneration, and tissue biology that informs our targeting strategies
- Advanced human iPSC, organoid, and disease models that allow functional validation of delivery systems
- Close interaction with clinician-scientists, accelerating translational alignment
- A collaborative culture that facilitates cross-disciplinary problem-solving
This environment allows us to move beyond delivery as an isolated engineering challenge and instead integrate it directly into regenerative and disease-focused research programmes.
Our Contribution to IDRM
Our group contributes a core enabling technology: programmable, tissue-targeted delivery systems. By developing modular LNP, EV, and bioconjugate platforms—alongside receptor discovery and de novo binder design—we provide tools that can be applied across IDRM’s disease areas.
We actively engage through collaborative projects, joint grant applications, shared supervision of students, and participation in seminars and cross-theme initiatives. Our work supports IDRM’s broader goals of translating mechanistic insights into therapeutic strategies, particularly in inflammatory and degenerative diseases.