Endowed by Dr. John O’Shea, Co-Founding Faculty Member and Long-time Supporter of the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program
We are thrilled to announce Asmay Gharia as the recipient of the 2024 John and Alice O’Shea Innovation Award for Novel Solutions in Biology or Medicine. This esteemed award recognizes groundbreaking discoveries that utilize new or unusual methods, paradigms, or approaches to solve critical problems in biology or medicine.
About the Award
Commencing in 2023, the John and Alice O’Shea Innovation Award has been endowed by Dr. John O’Shea, the Scientific Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. This award honors discoveries of unusual importance, application, or magnitude that make significant contributions to the fields of biology or medicine through innovative approaches.
Meet the Winner: Asmay Gharia
Asmay Gharia has invented a groundbreaking method for cellular electroporation with the potential to revolutionize the field of biomedical science. His innovative work has already attracted significant interest and acclaim within the scientific community.
Key Achievements:
- Innovative Method: Asmay has developed a novel technique for cellular electroporation that promises to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of gene modification.
- Industry Interest: A global leader in electroporation technology has expressed interest in licensing Asmay’s groundbreaking technology.
- Published Research: A manuscript detailing his work has been favorably reviewed by Science Advances, highlighting the significant impact of his research.
- Cancer Therapy Applications: Asmay aimed to develop a technique to more easily modify macrophages for cancer therapy applications. He successfully created a device that demonstrates efficient CRISPR-based gene perturbation in macrophage cell models and consistent primary cell transfection.
- Macrophage Polarization: His research has shown that specific gene perturbations using his device can induce pro-inflammatory or immunosuppressive macrophage polarization states in an in vitro tumor model, demonstrating its potential for advancing cancer therapies.
Asmay shared, “It is an incredible honor to receive the John and Alice O’Shea Innovation Award in recognition of my research in high-efficiency bioelectronic cell-engineering systems. My long-standing goal has been, and continues to be, reshaping manufacturing of personalized therapies to accelerate their development and promote accessibility. I would not have been able to pursue this dream without the opportunities provided to me through the NIH OxCam Program and could not have done this without the wisdom, guidance, and support of my supervisors Drs. Iain Fraser and George Malliaras.”
Recognizing Excellence
IBRA and the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program extend heartfelt congratulations to Asmay Gharia for his remarkable achievements. His innovative contributions to cellular electroporation and cancer therapy applications make him a deserving recipient of the John and Alice O’Shea Innovation Award for Novel Solutions in Biology or Medicine.
We also commend the other nominees, Dalton Hermans, Henry Taylor, Jacob Gordon, Shreya Chappidi, Tung Nguyen, and Zoe Wong, for their exceptional contributions to the field of biology and medicine.
Stay tuned for more updates and news on groundbreaking research from the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program. For more information on Asmay Gharia’s work and the John and Alice O’Shea Innovation Award, please visit our website.