Q&A with Cydney Martell: Optimizing the Design of Protein Therapeutics

Proteins are large molecules in the body that perform many vital functions, and many diseases are related to malfunctioning proteins. Protein therapy is a widely used treatment method that involves sending engineered versions of proteins into the body to repair or replace malfunctioning proteins or to supplement beneficial proteins already in the body.  

However, challenges can arise in designing and administering these medicines to patients. Cydney Martell, a graduate student at Northwestern University, received a 2023 PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship in Drug Delivery for her research examining factors that impact the delivery of protein therapeutics to optimize their design to treat a variety of diseases.  

Watch this video to learn about Martell and her research.