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

College of Pharmacy at the Iowa State Fair promotional image

College of Pharmacy at the Iowa State Fair

Sunday, August 23, 2026 9:00am to 11:00am
State Fair Grounds, Varied Industries Building

Come visit the College of Pharmacy at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 23, between 9:00 - 11:00 am! 

The College of Pharmacy invites you to stop by the UI booth in the Varied Industries Building to visit with some of our APhA-ASP student pharmacists. They will provide education about drug safety and poison control. 

More info: uiowa.edu/statefair/find-us-fair

Progress 2026: Learning Together in the 21st Century promotional image

Progress 2026: Learning Together in the 21st Century

Thursday, October 1 to Friday, October 2, 2026 (all day)
Hyatt Regency Place

Overview:
Emphasizing the interprofessional team approach to patient care, the annual Progress conference combines internal medicine and pharmacy continuing education programs into a single multi-track program offering plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and hot topics in a combined interprofessional format. This conference will discuss practice changing diagnostic and therapeutic changes in a wide range of clinical medicine.

Topics include:
Cancer in Iowa
AI and Medicine
Alzheimer's Updates
De...

Progress 2026: Learning Together in the 21st Century promotional image

Progress 2026: Learning Together in the 21st Century

Friday, October 2, 2026 (all day)
Hyatt Regency Place

Overview:
Emphasizing the interprofessional team approach to patient care, the annual Progress conference combines internal medicine and pharmacy continuing education programs into a single multi-track program offering plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and hot topics in a combined interprofessional format. This conference will discuss practice changing diagnostic and therapeutic changes in a wide range of clinical medicine.

Topics include:
Cancer in Iowa
AI and Medicine
Alzheimer's Updates
De...

Use navigation links to see publications and current group members

Links also show available equipment, former group members and collaborators