Morgan Urello, PH.D

Chemical engineering Ph.D. with a strong background in targeted nucleic acid delivery, peptide/lipid engineering, and cell & molecular biology with over 7 years industry experience

Nanomedicine Team Leader

2022-present

• Supervised & mentored 6 scientists, a post doc, and 6 summer interns
• Initiated & lead the cross-functional projects with new technology

CAR T Cell Therapy Post Doc Mentor

2024-present

• In vivo CAR T cell proposal was funded & post doc hired
• Promising data quickly generated

STEMbassabor

2017-present

• Developed programs & lead activities to promote the STEM field
• Passionate about teaching/mentoring

AstraZeneca Catalyst Award & Mentor

2021-present

• Winner of company-wide contest to fund innovative ideas & mentor following years
• Idea resulted in 2 patents & 3 publications

Co-Founder/Officer of American Chemical Society (ACS) BIOT Mid-Atlantic Chapter, 07/2015-07/2017

• Co-founded the first regional BIOT chapter
• Established/maintained chapter web site & social media

Fellow, Chemistry-Biology Interface Program, 08/2011-07/2017

• Conducted annual seminars for multi-discipline audience to facilitate collaboration
• Mentored 5 undergraduates and 6 rotational students in lab

Recipient, Blue Hen Proof of Concept Award, 02/2017

• Awarded proof of concept funds in university-wide contest
• Presented novel idea & findings to multi-disciplinary investors for support

• Hanly, T.J., Urello, M.A., and Henson, M.A., "Dynamic Flux Balance Modeling of S. Cerevisiae and E. Coli Co-cultures for Efficient Consumption of Glucose/xylose Mixtures", Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 93, 6, 2529-541, 2012
• Urello, M.A., Kiick, K.L., and Sullivan, M.O., "A CMP-based Method for Tunable, Cell-mediated Gene Delivery from Collagen Scaffolds", Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2, 46, 8174-8185, 2014
• Urello, M.A., Kiick, K.L., and Sullivan, M.O., “ECM Turnover-Stimulated Gene Delivery through CMP-Plasmid Integration in Collagen”, Acta Biomaterialia, 62, 167-178, 2017
• Luo, T., David, M.A., Dunshee, L.C., Scott, R.A., Urello, M.A., Price, C., and Kiick, K.L., "Thermoresponsive Elastin-b-Collagen-Like Peptide Bioconjugate Nanovesicles for Targeted Drug Delivery to Collagen-Containing Matrices", Biomacromolecules, 18, 8, 2539-2551, 2017
• Urello, M.A., Xiang, L., Colombo R., Ma, A., Joseph, A., Boyd, J., Peterson, N., Gao, C., Wu, H., and Christie, J.R., "Metabolite-Based Modification of Poly(L-lysine) for Improved Gene Delivery", BioMacromolecules, 21, 9, 2020
• Urello, M.A., Hsu, W., and Christie, J.R., "Peptides as a Material Platform for Gene Delivery: Emerging Concepts and Converging Technologies", Acta Biomaterialia, 117, 40-59
• Urello, M.A., et al, J.R., "Intracellular Nano-Delivery of DNA with Enzyme-Degradable and pH-Responsive Peptide Dendrons", JACS, submitted

• Kiick, K.L., Sullivan, M.O., and Urello, M.A., "Collagen-Mimetic Peptide Mediated Delivery of DNA Carriers for Efficient Delivery from Collagen", WO2018017598A1, 01/2019
• Urello, M.A. and Christie, R.J., "Multifunctional Chemistries for Enhanced Nucleic Acid delivery", AZ 201008, 05/2020
• Urello, M.A., Vaughan, H, and Christie, R.J., "Single molecules Peptides for Nucleic Acid Delivery", AZ 201008, 05/2020