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  4. Hadi Valadi

Hadi Valadi

Researcher

Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research
Mail
hadi.valadi@gu.se
Visiting address
Guldhedsgatan 10
51346 Göteborg
Postal address
Box 480
40530 Göteborg

About Hadi Valadi

In humans, intercellular communication occurs in several different ways. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), with a diameter of 30–300 nm, play an important role in this process. These vesicles are secreted by almost all cell types studied so far and have been detected in a wide range - possibly all - of biological fluids. In 2007, we were the first to demonstrate that EVs also serve as carriers of RNA molecules, primarily mRNA and miRNA, between cells (Valadi H. et al. Nature Cell Biology) (1).

The aim of our research is to understand the underlying mechanisms by which RNA molecules are transferred between cells via EVs and to explore how this process can be utilized for therapeutic purposes - for example, by loading EVs with specific therapeutic mRNA molecules for targeted delivery to selected cell types or organs within the same individual, thereby opening up new possibilities in precision medicine.

References:

  1. Valadi, H., Ekstrom, K., Bossios, A., Sjostrand, M., Lee, J.J. and Lotvall, J.O. (2007) Exosome-mediated transfer of mRNAs and microRNAs is a novel mechanism of genetic exchange between cells. Nature cell biology, 9, 654-659.

Group Members:

  • Benyapa Tangruksa – PhD student
  • Zahra Payandeh – PhD student
  • Negar Ayoubzadeh – PhD student

Collaborative projects:

Horizon Europe (2025–2029):Together with research groups from several European universities and companies, we have secured a grant of 7.8 million euros to investigate the possibility of delivering RNA-based drugs to the central nervous system (CNS) via extracellular vesicles (EVs) or lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The blood-brain barrier Our project (NAP4DIVE) aims to improve the traditionally expensive and inefficient drug development by establishing advanced, non-animal alternatives to test and predict nanoparticle-based drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier.

AstraZeneca/Industrial PhD Student (2014–ongoing):Since 2014, we have had a close collaboration with the "Advanced Drug Delivery" and "Discovery 91̽»¨s" departments at AstraZeneca in Gothenburg to explore the use of EVs for the delivery of mRNA-based drugs to specific cell types and tissues. This collaboration has resulted in several grants and publications, and recently also in the acceptance of an industrial PhD student, funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) and AstraZeneca, for the period 2024–2028.

Industrial Research Centre FormulaEx (2017–2025):FormulaEx is an industrial research centre for functional RNA delivery, funded with 100 million SEK by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF). The three academic partners—Chalmers University of Technology, Karolinska Institutet, and the University 91̽»¨â€”conduct research in close collaboration with AstraZeneca, Vironova, Camurus, and Nanolyze. The centre contributes fundamental knowledge required to design safe and efficient nanoscale drug delivery systems for next-generation nucleotide drugs.

Read more

EU investment in research on how RNA-based drugs can reach the brain