Engineering saRNA Delivery Systems for Therapeutics
12:00 PM–1:00 PM EDT | October 20, 2026
RNA medicines, including mRNA vaccines, have transformed how we prevent and treat disease, but challenges remain in improving their effectiveness, durability, and safety. Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) offers a promising approach by enabling longer-lasting therapeutic effects at much lower doses.
In this webinar, Dr. Anna Blakney from the University of British Columbia will discuss the development of next-generation saRNA technologies for vaccines and therapeutics. Her research focuses on engineering new RNA designs and optimizing nanoparticle delivery systems to improve the performance of saRNA.
The webinar will explore how molecular and biomaterial engineering strategies can enhance RNA expression, delivery, and therapeutic potential. These advances may support the development of more effective vaccines and therapies for infectious diseases, cancer, genetic disorders, and other applications.
Key Topics
- Engineering self-amplifying RNA for improved therapeutic performance
- Optimizing nanoparticle systems for efficient saRNA delivery
- Improving the effectiveness and durability of RNA-based therapies
- Applications of saRNA in vaccines and therapeutic development
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Speaker
Dr. Anna Blakney
Associate Professor
Michael Smith Laboratories
School of Biomedical Engineering
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Dr. Anna Blakney is an Associate Professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the Michael Smith Laboratories and School of Biomedical Engineering at UBC. She received her Bachelor of Science in Chemical & Biological Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and her PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Washington. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Imperial College London on the development of molecular and biomaterial engineering strategies for delivery of self-amplifying RNA. Her lab uses bioengineering, molecular biology and immunology approaches to develop the next generation of RNA vaccines and therapies. Her research has been published in a variety of top tier journals including ACS Nano, Nature Communications, Molecular Therapy, Biomaterials, Journal of Controlled Release, and Advanced Materials. She is also a passionate science communicator and runs a TikTok channel dedicated to educating the public about RNA biotechnology, which now has >250,000 followers and >18M views. Dr. Blakney has received numerous awards and recognitions including the 2023 MIT Tech Review’s 35 Innovators Under 35, 2022 Gairdner Early Career Investigator Award, the 2021 UBC President’s Award for Public Education Through Media, the 2021 American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Award Science Communication Award and the 2022 Controlled Release Society Gene Delivery and Editing Focus Group Young Investigator Award.
