Welcome

Welcome to the home page for "The Salem Laboratory of Advanced Drug and Gene Delivery". Dr. Salem's research expertise is in drug discovery, development, formulation and delivery. Dr. Salem applies this expertise to developing therapies for regenerative medicine, cancer and other diseases. 

 

Selected Publication Highlights:

M. Hassert, L.L. Drewry, L.L. Pewe, L.S. Hancox, R. He, S. Arumugam, M.R. Mix, A.K. Salem, and J.T. Harty. mRNA vaccination overcomes hemozoin-mediated impairment of whole parasite malaria vaccines. Nature Microbiology. 2026.

R. Smith†, E.I. Wafa†, S.M. Geary†, K. Ebeid, S.O. Alhaj-Suliman, A.K. Salem. Cationic nanoparticles enhance T-cell tumor infiltration and antitumor immune response to a melanoma vaccine. Science Advances. 2022. 

K. Ebeid, X. Meng, K.W. Thiel, A. Do, S.M. Geary, A. S. Morris, E.L. Pham, A. Wongrakpanich, Y.S. Chhonker, D.J. Murry, K.K. Leslie, A.K. Salem. Synthetically Lethal Nanoparticles for Treatment of Endometrial Cancer. Nature Nanotechnology. 2018.

M.C. Coleman, J.E. Goetz, M.J. Brouillette, D. Seol, M.C. Willey, E.B. Petersen, B. Khorsand, A.S. Morris, A.K. Salem, D.C. Fredericks, T.O. McKinley, J.A. Martin. Mitochondrial Responses to Intraarticular Fracture are a Disease-Modifying Target for Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis Prevention. Science Translational Medicine. 2018.

S.M. Geary, C.D. Lemke, D.M. Lubaroff and A.K. Salem. Proposed mechanisms of action for prostate cancer vaccines. Nature Reviews Urology. 2013.

A.K. Salem, P.C. Searson and K.W. Leong. Multifunctional nanorods for gene delivery. Nature Materials. Oct 2003, 2, 668-671.

H.S. Sakhalkar, M.K. Dalal, A.K. Salem, R. Ansari, J. Fu, M.F. Kiani, J. Hanes, K.M. Shakesheff and D.J. Goetz. Leukocyte inspired therapeutic particles that selectively and avidly adhere to inflamed endothelium. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.100 (26): 15895-15900 DEC 23 2003.

 

porous particle

Formulation Expertise

Our research group has expertise in formulating small molecules, proteins and nucleic acids

Pyramid Scaffold

Materials Science and Nano and Microtechnology Expertise

Our research group has expertise on materials characterization and using nano and microtechnology to develop effective dosage forms.

Salem Group 2016

Formulation

Experts
In the Lab 2

Drug and Gene Delivery

Toxicity Testing
Kareem Salem

Cancer Immunotherapy

Regenerative Medicine

Directions

See the "Contact Us" page for directions to the College of Pharmacy

 

cells with particles

Research in progress 1

R. Smith†, E.I. Wafa†, S.M. Geary†, K. Ebeid, S.O. Alhaj-Suliman, A.K. Salem. Cationic nanoparticles enhance T-cell tumor infiltration and antitumor immune response to a melanoma vaccine. Science Advances. 2022.

3D Salem Lab logo

Research in progress 2

S. Areecheewakul, A. Adamcakova-Dodd, Z.R. Zacharias, X. Jing, D.K. Meyerholz, K.L. Legge, J.C.D. Houtman, P.T. O’Shaughnessy, P.S. Thorne, A.K. Salem. Immunomodulatory effects of sub-acute inhalation exposure to copper oxide nanoparticles in house dust mite-induced asthma. ACS Nano. 2023.

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Events

2026 College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy Commencement Ceremony promotional image

2026 College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy Commencement Ceremony

Thursday, May 14, 2026 10:00am
Hancher Auditorium

Join us as we celebrate the Class of 2026 PharmD graduates! Doors will open one hour prior to ceremony start. No tickets required.

Distinguished Commencement Speaker:
Jeffrey Reist, ’82 BSPh, PharmD, BCPS
Associate Professor Emeritus, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy

Event will be livestreamed here:
https://commencement.uiowa.edu/ceremony/spring-2026/2026-college-pharmacy-doctor-pharmacy-commencement-ceremony

2026 US-Thai/US-ASEAN Pharmacy Consortia Meeting promotional image

2026 US-Thai/US-ASEAN Pharmacy Consortia Meeting

Tuesday, June 2 to Friday, June 5, 2026 (all day)
College of Pharmacy Building (CPB)

The UI College of Pharmacy will host the 2026 US-Thai/US-ASEAN Pharmacy Consortia Meeting.

This long-standing collaboration between the United States and Thailand improves pharmacy education and the advancement of pharmacy practice in Thailand. It’s an opportunity for pharmacy faculty, students, practitioners, and others to share best practices and address challenges, such as curriculum differences, to improve health outcomes and strengthen international networks.

For more information: https:/...

2026 US-Thai/US-ASEAN Pharmacy Consortia Meeting promotional image

2026 US-Thai/US-ASEAN Pharmacy Consortia Meeting

Wednesday, June 3 to Friday, June 5, 2026 (all day)
College of Pharmacy Building (CPB)

The UI College of Pharmacy will host the 2026 US-Thai/US-ASEAN Pharmacy Consortia Meeting.

This long-standing collaboration between the United States and Thailand improves pharmacy education and the advancement of pharmacy practice in Thailand. It’s an opportunity for pharmacy faculty, students, practitioners, and others to share best practices and address challenges, such as curriculum differences, to improve health outcomes and strengthen international networks.

For more information: https:/...

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