Divya Mathur, an Indian-origin chemist and assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University, has been awarded the highly esteemed Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
This is for her innovative research in synthetic DNA nanoparticles, a groundbreaking advancement with transformative potential in the field of gene therapy.
Currently serving as the Frank Hovorka Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the university’s College of Arts and Sciences, Mathur is one of only three Case Western Reserve faculty members to receive the prestigious award this year.
The NSF CAREER Award, considered one of the agency’s most competitive and distinguished honors for early-career faculty, supports researchers who exemplify excellence in both education and research, with the potential to become leaders in their fields.
The Promise of Programmable DNA Nanoparticles
At the heart of Mathur’s research lies a critical problem in modern medicine: effective gene delivery.
While identifying faulty genes responsible for genetic diseases is increasingly possible, delivering therapeutic genetic material to the right cells within the human body remains a major hurdle.
“It’s easy to deliver things to the liver, so liver-based therapies are in clinical trials,” Mathur explained. “Converting this to another area of the body is difficult, which is one of the things that motivates us to pursue this research.”
Her lab, the Mathur Nano Lab, is working on a novel solution, programmable synthetic DNA nanoparticles designed to carry therapeutic genes directly to specific cell types. These nanoparticles could potentially replace malfunctioning genes, instruct cells to produce necessary proteins, or correct genetic mutations.
Mathur envisions a future where these DNA structures can be fitted with targeting mechanisms akin to a “barcode on a package,” ensuring precision delivery to affected areas in the body.
Peering Inside Cells: A Window into Nanoparticle Behavior
One of the most innovative aspects of Mathur’s work is her focus on understanding how these nanoparticles behave inside living cells, a critical step for advancing safe and effective therapeutics.
Using advanced microscopy and single-cell injection techniques, her team introduces fluorescently tagged DNA structures into cells, allowing researchers to visually track their journey and interaction with cellular components in real time.
“We don’t know how these nanoparticles act when they are inside the cell; how they interact with the proteins that are inside,” she said. “We have to understand that fundamentally before we can imagine how to design therapeutics.”
This fundamental understanding could unlock new methods of treating not only genetic disorders but also complex diseases that involve protein production or metabolic imbalances.
Educating Future Scientists
The NSF CAREER Award also supports Mathur’s commitment to STEM education and community outreach. A portion of the grant will fund summer chemistry projects for high school students, aiming to ignite curiosity and nurture talent in the next generation of scientists.
In addition, Mathur plans to develop mixed-reality 3D models to teach students about molecular structures and spatial orientation, an area often difficult to visualize through traditional classroom instruction.
“We want to show students how molecules are three-dimensional, how they occupy space, and how they have specific orientation in space, like right or left-handedness,” she noted.
Recognition and Mentorship
Earlier this year, Mathur was honored with the John S. Dieckhoff Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring, a testament to her dedication to nurturing young talent.
One of her undergraduate researchers, Sara Desai, was recently awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, one of the most competitive national scholarships for students aiming for research careers in science and engineering.
A Trailblazer in Nanoscience
Mathur’s academic journey began in India, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the Delhi College of Engineering (2010).
She later completed a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at Iowa State University (2016) and went on to conduct postdoctoral research at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and George Mason University.
Today, her lab continues to explore how synthetic DNA can be used as a scaffold to organize organic and inorganic materials at the nanoscale, enhancing their optical, chemical, and therapeutic properties.
With the NSF CAREER Award propelling her work forward, Divya Mathur stands at the forefront of a new era in precision medicine, poised to make significant strides in solving one of the greatest challenges in modern biology: how to get the right treatment to the right place, at the right time.
