Faculty

Hamideh Parhiz, PharmD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics

Department: Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics

Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information

421 Curie Boulevard
Biomedical Research Building II/III Room 1256
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Email:
hamideh.parhiz@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Education
PharmD (Pharmacy)
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2005.
PhD (Pharmaceutical Biotechnology)
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2011.

Permanent link

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Description of Research Expertise

Nucleic acid-based therapeutics
Nano-engineering
Targeted delivery of nanomedicine
mRNA therapeutics
Autoimmunity
Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy

Research Interests:
Our lab develops novel nucleic acid delivery systems, including a new generation of targeted lipid nanoparticle (tLNP), for in vivo cellular reprogramming. We leverage these systems for mRNA-based therapeutics in a variety of non-vaccine applications such as inherited diseases, acquired or congenital hematopoietic conditions, cancers, fibrosis, and acute inflammatory conditions. We also investigate the mechanisms underlying the enhancement of delivery systems such as the ones related to more favorable pharmacokinetic profile, to apply those principles in designing more effective gene and mRNA therapeutics. Currently, the targeted LNP-mRNA platform we design serves as the foundation for ongoing academic programs and industrial product developments.

Selected Publications

Zeng J, Papp TE, Akyianu A, Bahena A, Leo L, Halilovic F, Parhiz H: Rapid receptor internalization potentiates CD7-targeted lipid nanoparticles for efficient mRNA delivery to T cells and in vivo CAR T-cell engineering. Journal of Controlled Release Aug 2026 Notes: I led my team here to demonstrate that the efficiency of tLNP was driven by rapid receptor internalization rather than receptor abundance, making internalization kinetics a key factor for optimal delivery.

Dumoulin B, Levinsohn J, Klötzer KA, Li C, Mao L, Ha E, Mohandes S, Nguyen T, Paruzzo L, Hirohama D, Fang V, Bhoj VG, Parhiz H, Andrade-Silva M, Abedini A, Bergeson A, Traum D, May MJ, Kaestner KH, Ruella M, McAllister FE, Hakimi AA, Li M, Palmer M, Wherry EJ, Hunter CA, Cancro MP, TRIDENT Consortium, Susztak K.: Spatial atlas of diabetic kidney disease reveals a B cell-rich subgroup. Nature May 2026 Notes: Middle author contribution: I provided data sets, analysis, contributed text, and helped revised the manuscript.

Leo L, Papp TE, Chen C, Pham J, Jeong S, Halilovic F, Thompson J, Akyianu A, Zeng J, Rompolas P, Marcos-Contreras OA, Parhiz H.: Targeted LNP-mediated delivery of VE-cadherin mRNA reduces vascular hyperpermeability in vivo. Blood Advances Mar 2026 Notes: I led my team here to demonstrate that targeted LNP-mediated delivery of VE-cadherin mRNA reduces vascular hyperpermeability in several animal models.

Bajbouj K, Xiao Z, Todd L, Huang L, Papp TE, Halilovic F, Ramani J, Bao Y, Butcher M, Bot A, Aghajanian H, June CH, Weissman D, Parhiz H, Albelda SA, Pure E. : Targeted Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery of FAP-CAR mRNA Enables Potent In Vivo T-Cell Engineering Against Pancreatic Tumors. Cancer Immunology Research Feb 2026 Notes: Middle author contribution: I provided data sets, analysis, contributed text, and helped revised the manuscript.

Yashaswini CN, Cogliati B, Qin T, To T, Williamson T, Papp TE, Li K, Rasul R, Chen L, Lightstone A, Aghajanian H, Parhiz H, Wang S, Rurik JG, Epstein JA, Friedman SL.: Anti-FAP CAR T cells produced in vivo reduce fibrosis and restore liver homeostasis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Sci Transl Med 18: eadx0368, Jan 2026 Notes: Middle author contribution: I provided data sets, analysis, contributed text, and helped revised the manuscript.

Hamideh Parhiz: Surface-modified delivery systems for stealth function. In: Harnessing Endogenous Mechanisms for Targeted Drug Delivery. Academic Press. Anisha A. D’Souza, Lara S. Milane and Mansoor M. Amiji (eds.). Elsevier, Jan 2026.

Zeng J, Papp TE, Akyianu A, Bahena A, Leo L, Halilovic F, Parhiz H: Rapid receptor internalization potentiates CD7-targeted lipid nanoparticles for efficient mRNA delivery to T cells and in vivo CAR T-cell engineering. bioRxiv Jan 2026 Notes: I led my team here to demonstrate that the efficiency of tLNP was driven by rapid receptor internalization rather than receptor abundance, making internalization kinetics a key factor for optimal delivery.

Nakamichi S, von Muhlinen N, Yamada L, Melamed JR, Papp TE, Parhiz H, Weissman D, Horikawa I, Harris CC: SRSF3 knockdown-induced cellular senescence as a possible therapeutic strategy for non-small cell lung cancer. Carcinogenesis Nov 2025 Notes: Middle-Author Contribution: I provided data sets, analysis, contributed text, and helped revised the manuscript.

Reyes-Esteves S, Majumder A, Marzolini N, Zamora M, Wang Y, Espy C, Papp TE, Akyianu A, Nong J, Messe L, Omo-Lamai S, Parhiz H, Myerson J, Marcos-Contreras O, Brenner J.: Targeted lipid nanoparticles containing IL-10 mRNA improve outcomes in experimental intracerebral hemorrhage. J Neuroinflammation Oct 2025 Notes: I provided data sets, analysis, contributed text, and helped revised the manuscript.

A. Aicher, E. Niemeyer, P. Areesawangkit, C. Tilsed, K.P. Fong, X. Shi, J. Zeng, T.E. Papp, H. Parhiz, J. Predina.: Induction of Immunogenic Cancer Cell Death via mRNA Lipid Nanoparticle Treatment. Owen H. Wangensteen Scientific Forum, Am. College of Surgeons Clin. Congress 2025 Oct 2025.