The Speakers

Gaurav Sahay, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of the Center for Innovative Drug Delivery and Imaging (CIDDI) at Oregon State University. His research focuses on the development of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technologies for the delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA), gene-editing systems, and other nucleic acid therapeutics to treat diseases including cystic fibrosis, retinal degeneration, and cancer. Dr. Sahay is internationally recognized for his pioneering contributions to understanding intracellular trafficking and endosomal escape, key biological barriers that limit the effectiveness of nucleic acid therapeutics. His work has advanced fundamental knowledge of how nanoparticles interact with cells and has led to the development of innovative delivery strategies that enhance cytosolic transport and therapeutic efficacy. He has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications in leading scientific journals, including Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communications, and Science Advances. His research has been supported by major funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and multiple industry partners. Dr. Sahay’s contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including the AAPS Postdoctoral Fellow Award, the Controlled Release Society (CRS) T. Nagai Award, the AACP New Investigator Award, the OHSU Distinguished Faculty Senate Award, the PKP Emerging Scholar Award, and the CMBE Young Innovator Award. He was elected a Fellow of the Controlled Release Society (CRS) in 2024 and a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) in 2026. In addition to his academic leadership, Dr. Sahay is actively engaged in translating scientific discoveries into clinical applications. He is a co-founder of EnterX Bio, RNAvax Bio and has played a significant role in advancing next-generation RNA medicines and nanoparticle-based therapeutics from the laboratory toward commercialization and patient care.