2025 has been a landmark year for the Nallathamby Laboratory. From securing major federal funding to advancing our intellectual property and celebrating student milestones, our team has made significant strides in nanomedicine and precision health. Here is a look back at our key achievements.
Protecting Our Innovations: Three New Patent Applications
It has been a productive year for protecting our lab’s innovations. In 2025, we advanced our intellectual property portfolio with three significant filings targeting infection control and wound healing:
- New Provisional Application (Aug 18, 2025): We filed for “PLGA Nanoparticles Formulations Loaded With Antibiotics” (App # 63/865,823). This technology focuses on sustained, controlled antibiotic release to prolong antibacterial action against tough pathogens like MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa FRD1.
- New Non-Provisional Application (Nov 24, 2025): Moving our research closer to the market, we filed a non-provisional application for “Peptide-conjugated phage-mimicking nanoparticles” (App # 19/487,191), designed to promote inflammation-free wound healing.
- International PCT Application (Dec 1, 2025): We also expanded our global reach with a PCT application for “Phage-Mimicking Nanoparticle And Polyethylenimine Metal Implant Coatings” (App # PCT/US2025/042207), aiming to protect implants from bacterial colonization.
Major Funding Secured
In May, our lab was awarded a significant grant from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). This Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) IDEA award provides $694,330 in funding from 2025 to 2027. The project, titled “Multispecific Bridge Nanoparticles to Engage T Cells and Off-the-Shelf CAR-T Cells Against Antigen(+) EC Tumors,” aims to develop “bridge nanoparticles” that physically link T cells to tumors, enhancing antitumor immune activity.
Publications and Preprints
Our research output remained strong with the release of a new preprint on ChemRxiv titled “Receptor Independent Magnetoelectric Nanocarriers for Spatiotemporally Controlled Chemotherapy.” This work explores novel nanocarrier mechanisms for precise drug delivery. Major contributors to this work were Jack Lyu, Aurelie Brownsberger, Carlie Kudary, and Margo Waters.
Conference Highlights
Our team shared our findings at premier scientific gatherings this year:
- MHSRS 2025 (August): We presented a poster at the Military Health System Research Symposium in Kissimmee, Florida. The presentation, “Biomimetic Nanoparticles (BANPs) for Re-Sensitizing Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens,” showcased how our nanoparticles work synergistically with standard antibiotics like Ertapenem.
- SFB 2025 (April): We delivered a talk titled “Fighting Superbugs in Chicago” at the Society for Biomaterials annual meeting.
Student Achievements and Awards
Our students continue to excel in the lab and beyond:
- PhD Candidacy: Congratulations to Aurelie Brownsberger, who passed her qualifying exam on November 12, 2025, officially becoming a PhD Candidate. Her work focuses on “smart” Dox-MagSiNs nanoparticles for targeting metastatic cancers.
- Fellowship: Congratulations again to Aurelie Brownsberger whose application on understanding the mechanism of cancer specificity of MagSiNs was awarded an ND Materials Science and Engineering Fellowship for the AY 2025 to 2026. As part of this fellowship, Aurelie’s Graduate Stipend is completely covered, and she will get a joint degree in Bioengineering and Materials Science and Engineering at the conclusion of her Ph.D.
- New Team Members: In August, we officially welcomed Carlie Kudary as a new PhD student in the Bioengineering Graduate Program. Carlie previously served as a technician at the Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health (BIPH). Ryan Eastland (premed) joined as an undergraduate researcher in Fall 2025.
- Undergraduate Success: Olivia Sayani won First Place at the Undergraduate Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in July for her compelling research presentation.
- Fundraising: Congratulations to Ryan “The Gentleman” Davey on reaching the finals of the Heavyweight category of the Notre Dame Bengal bouts 2025 boxing fundraiser. While the final decision didn’t go his way, Davey’s grit and heart were on full display in what became one of the evening’s most thrilling matchups.This year’s tournament was a massive success, raising $194,530 to provide scholarships and medical care where it is needed most.
We look forward to continuing this momentum into 2026!
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