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Aliasger Salem, PhD

Lyle and Sharon Bighley Endowed Chair & Professor / Associate Vice President for Research

Introduction

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.

Current Positions

  • Associate Vice President for Research, University of Iowa
  • Lyle and Sharon Bighley Chair and Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa
  • Board of Directors, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (2023 - 2025)
  • Co-Director, Nanotoxicology Core, Environmental Health Sciences Research Center, University of Iowa
  • Licensed for Drug Handling, Iowa Pharmacy Association and Drug Enforcement Agency
  • Professor, Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa
  • Professor, Biomedical Engineering (BME), College of Engineering, University of Iowa
  • Professor, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (CBE), College of Engineering, University of Iowa
  • Professor, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
  • Professor, Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Iowa

Education

  • Applied Chemistry, Aston University, United Kingdom
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

Selected Awards & Honors

  • Regents Award for Faculty Excellence, Iowa Board of Regents
  • The Power List 2024, The Medicine Maker
  • Elected Fellow, National Academy of Inventors
  • Elected Executive Board Member, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
  • Elected Fellow, Controlled Release Society
  • First Place Prize ($25,000) for Petrost Therapeutics, University of Iowa Innovation Challenge
  • Louis W. Busse Lecturer, University of Wisconsin
  • Start-Up Technology Company of the Year Award to S5G Therapeutics, 2022 Prometheus Awards Competition, Technology Association of Iowa
  • First Place Prize ($25,000) for S5G Therapeutics, University of Iowa Innovation Challenge
  • Certificate of Distinction, Student Supervisor of the Year Award, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa

Professional Memberships

  • Full Member of Sigma XI
  • Full Member and Graduate of the Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Member and Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI)
  • Member and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • Member and Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)
  • Board Member and Fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)
  • Member and Fellow of the Controlled Release Society (CRS)
  • Member of the Johns Hopkins Medical and Surgical Association
  • Member of the Materials Research Society (MRS)
  • Member of the American Chemical Society (ACS)

Research Interests

  • Nanotechnology
  • Biodegradable Polymers
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Vaccines
  • Nanoparticles
  • Lab on a Chip
  • Nanotoxicity
  • Microfabrication
  • Targeted Drug Delivery
  • Polymer Synthesis

Selected Publications

  • Morris, A. S.; Salem, A. K. (2016). Nanotoxicity. Nanomedicine for Inflammatory Diseases. (CRS Press, Taylor and Francis; Ed: L. Milane, M. Amiji.)
  • Kruger, T.; Givens, B. E.; Lansakara, T.; Bell, K.; Mohapatra, H.; Salem, A. K.; Tivanski, A.; Stevens, L. (2018). Mechanosensitive endocytosis of high-stiffness, sub-micron microgels in macrophage and hepatocarcinoma cell lines. ACS Applied Bio Materials.
  • Wafa, E. I.; Geary, S. M.; Ross, K. A.; Goodman, J. T.; Narasimhan, B.; Salem, A. K. (2018). A single shot of a polyanhydride particle-based vaccine generates potent antigen-specific anti-tumor immune responses in vivo. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
  • Suliman, S. O.; Wafa, E. I.; Geary, S. M.; Salem, A. K. (2019). Polymeric particles as cancer vaccine vectors. American Pharmaceutical Review.
  • Bi, J.; Areecheewakul, S.; Li, Y.; Yang, S.; Zhang, Y.; Ebeid, K.; Li, L.; Thiel, K.; Zhang, J.; Salem, A. K.; Leslie, K. K.; Meng, X. (2019). MTDH increase cisplatin resistance in cancer by associating with mRNAs of FANCD2 and FANCI. Gynecologic Oncology.
  • Quarterman, J. C.; Givens, B. E.; Geary, S. M.; Salem, A. K. (2020). Drug Eluting Degradable Coatings on Biomedical Implants. Book Chapter in “Emerging Technologies for Biofabrication and Biomanufacturing." Edited by El Assal, Chen and Demirci [CA][BC]
  • Wongrakpanich, A.; Sukasiriworaphong, J.; Geary, S. M.; Sawangchan, P.; Intra, J.; Ruktanonchai, U.; Salem, A. K. Mitochondria-targeting particles for biomedical applications. Book Chapter in the Book titled “Mitochondrial Protection for Health and Aging: Using Natural Compounds to Improve Mitochondrial Function through the Lifecycle” (Elsevier). [BC][CA] 
  • S.K. Boi, R.M. Orlandella, J.T. Gibson, W.J. Turbitt, G. Wald, L. Thomas, C.B. Rosean, K.E. Norris, M. Bing, L. Bertrand, B.P. Gross, A. Makkouk, D. Starenki, K.I. Farag, R.E. Sorge, J.A. Brown, J. Gordetsky, H. Yasin, R. Garje, L. Nandagopal, G.J. Weiner, D.M. Lubaroff, R.C. Arend, P. Li, Y. Zakharia, E. Yang, A.K Salem, K. Nepple, T.T. Marquez-Lago, L.A. Norian. Obesity diminishes response to PD-1-based immunotherapies in renal cancer. Journal of Immunotherapy in Cancer. 2020 
  • S.A. Abdelrahman, A. El-Damasy, G.S. Hassan, E.I. Wafa, S.M. Geary, A.R. Maarouf, A.K. Salem. Cyclohepta-b-thiophenes as potential antiproliferative agents: Design, synthesis, in vitro and in vivo anticancer evaluation. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science. 2020. [CA] 
  • Y. Cheng, C.D. Lemke-Miltner, W. Wongpattaraworakul, Z. Wang, C.H. Chan, A.K. Salem, G.J. Weiner, A.L. Simons. In situ immunization of a TLR9 agonist virus-like particle enhances anti-PD1 therapy. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 2020