January - We have two new additions to the lab, Chad Skaer is joining as a Research Technologist and Steven Vitullo is joining as a Research Program Administrator. Welcome to the Kastrup Lab, Chad and Steven!

February - New Publication! - Lipid nanoparticles and siRNA targeting plasminogen provide long-acting inhibition of fibrinolysis in murine and canine models of hemophilia A.” has been accepted in Science Translational Medicine! Dr. Christian Kastrup was featured in a podcast from the Naked Scientist. Check it out here: https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/breakthrough-blood-clot-breakdown-treatment

Fall 2024 - Our recent publication “Genetic engineering of megakaryocytes from blood progenitor cells using mRNA lipid nanoparticles” was accepted in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Congrats to those lab members involved! NanoVation Therapeutics, a company spun-out by members and collaborators of the Kastrup Lab, announce $600M partnership with Novo Nordisk to develop genetic medicines. Click here for press release.

Aug 2024 - Four of our lab members presented their work at the annual MHSRS conference in Orlando, Florida! We are also excited to have a recent publication ‘Genetic Engineering of Transfusable Platelets with mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticles is Compatible with Blood Banking Practices’ accepted in the journal Blood. Congrats to those lab members involved.

July 2024 - The lab is welcoming our new MD/PhD student, Muskan Bansal. Welcome, Muskan!

June 2024 - Our surgical resident, Monica, is concluding her time with our lab and returning to her surgery duties at MCW. Thanks for all your work and good luck back in surgery, Monica! New publication! “siRNA-mediated reduction of a circulating protein in swine using lipid nanoparticles.” has been accepted in Molecular Therapy-Methods and Clinical Development.

April 2024 - New publication! “RNA Therapeutics to control fibrinolysis: Review on applications in Biology and Medicine.” has been accepted in the Journal of Thrombosis and Hemostasis! Several of our UBC lab members participated in the Norman Bethune Symposium giving poster presentations. Dr. Kastrup also gave a talk titled “Genetically modified transfusable donor platelets using mRNA-lipid nanoparticles”

January - Research Trainee, Amanda Wietrzny, was accepted into the interdisciplinary Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin for Fall 2023. She will be pursuing her PhD in Biochemistry. Good luck, Amanda!

February - Visiting PhD student Matteo Ferraresso joins the lab from the University of British Columbia. Welcome Matteo!

March - Manoj Paul is joining the lab from the University of British Columbia! Welcome Manoj!

April - Congratulations to Massimo Cau for successfully defending his PhD thesis! New Publication- “Ruggedized Self-Propelling Hemostatic Gauze Delivers Low Dose of Thrombin and Systemic Tranexamic Acid and Achieves High Survival in Swine with Junctional Hemorrhage.” accepted in Military Medicine

May - A big month for awards in the Kastrup Lab! Congratulations to Dr. Amy Strilchuk for being named a 2023 Schmidt Science Fellow, and to Francesca Ferraresso and Colton Strong for receiving CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarships for their doctoral programs!

Fall - We’ve had an exciting fall in the Kastrup Lab! Congratulations to our team for a new publication in Science Advances. We’ve also had several trainee led grants awarded! Way to go, Francesca and Laura for the Joan Cox Gill Pilot Award and Katherine for the Transfusion Medicine, Vascular Biology and Cell Therapy Program Research Staff/Trainee-led Pilot Grant.

September - Dr. Mitch Dyer joins the lab as an Adjunct Associate Investigator. Dr. Dyer is also an Assistant Professor in Vascular Surgery at MCW. Welcome, Dr. Dyer!

October - Youjie Zhang has started as a Graduate Student in the Kastrup lab! Youjie is studying Biomedical Engineering through a joint program between Marquette and MCW. Good luck, Youjie!

November - Our surgical Resident, Monica Seadler, gave birth to a little girl, Lillian. Congratulations, Monica!