Sam Lai, Ph.D.
Professor, Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Microbiology & Immunology; Biophysics; Oral Biology (School of Dentistry)
Sam Lai, Ph.D., was born in Hong Kong and spent his childhood in both Hong Kong and Vancouver. After completing high school at Phillips Academy, Andover, he attended Cornell University and received his BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in 2003. He then undertook doctoral studies at Johns Hopkins University, receiving his PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in 2007. Following a one-year postdoc, he became a research assistant professor at Johns Hopkins in fall 2008 before joining the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in fall 2010.
Lai’s previous research focused on nanoparticle-based delivery of bioactive molecules to mucosal tissues. He helped pioneer the development of mucus-penetrating particle technology, a breakthrough that formed the basis of Kala Pharmaceuticals, launched in 2009. Kala completed its IPO in 2017, and has two FDA-approved drugs based on the technology. His prior inventions have also been licensed by Graybug Vision, which completed its IPO in 2020 and is in late stage clinical development. Since moving to UNC, he has established a rigorous research program at the interface of engineering, immunology, biophysics and biomaterials. His lab has spun out a number of startups. His pioneering work on muco-trapping antibodies led to the formation of Mucommune, LLC, a startup focused on harnessing antibody-mucin interactions for female reproductive health, and Inhalon Biopharma, a startup focused on treating acute respiratory infections. These two companies have received over $20M in federal contracts, and Inhalon is set to become clinical stage company in 2021. He is also a co-founder of AI Tracking Solutions, a startup based on applying machine learning to video microscopy data analysis. He has received numerous prestigious awards for his research, including the NSF CAREER Award and the Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering.
Education, Certification and Licensure
- 2003 – 2007: Ph.D. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at John Hopkins University
- 2000 – 2003: B.S. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell University
Education, Entrepreneurship and Outreach
To promote entrepreneurship and innovation among graduate students, professional students and postdocs, in 2016 Lai launched the E(I) Lab program, an 8-month long experiential education program that bring together students from diverse disciplines across UNC to conceive, develop and test innovative solutions to unmet needs in healthcare.
Lai has also collaborated with the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center to develop laboratory module and education curriculum for middle school students titled What’s Snot to Like [PDF]. The curriculum is part of the Morehead Mobile Labs program.
Lai also served as Faculty Director of the Young Innovators Program from 2018-2020.
Current Projects
Lai’s current research interests span a diverse number of disciplines, include mucosal immunology and mucosal barriers to infectious disease, antibody response to synthetic materials, targeted nanoparticle delivery and viral gene therapy using bispecific antibodies, microbiome engineering, computational modeling and artificial intelligence. For more info, please see his lab website.
Note that the Lai Research Group is actively recruiting highly motivated members at all levels (postdoc, graduate students, undergraduates) from across all disciplines.
- Engineering antibodies for mucosal applications, including infectious disease and contraception
- Elucidation and methods to overcome polymer-specific immune responses
- Gene vectors for immune cells engineering
- Gene therapy of the microbiome
- Computational modeling and artificial intelligence
Honors and Awards
| 2013 | Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering |
| IBM Junior Faculty Development Award, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill | |
| 2012 | CAREER Award, National Science Foundation |
| 2010 | New Faculty Research Award, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy |
| 2008 | 2nd Place, AIChE Graduate Student Award (Bionanotechnology) |
| 2008-2009 | Croucher Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship |
| 2005-2007 | Predoctoral Fellowship, Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada |
| 2003 | Cornell Theory Center (IBM Computational Biology) Fellow |
| Alumni Research Scholar, Cornell University | |
| 2000-2003 | John McMullen Dean’s Scholar, Cornell University |
News
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Mucommune Receives Over $3M to Advance Muco-Trapping Antibodies
Mucommune LLC has been awarded over $3 million in five separate federal grants over the past several months to advance its muco-trapping antibody technology. The company was launched in 2016 by Sam Lai, Ph.D., an associate professor at the UNC … Continued
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UNC Builds Better Particle Tracking Software Using Artificial Intelligence
Scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have created a new method of particle tracking based on machine learning that is far more accurate and provides better automation than techniques currently in use. Single-particle tracking involves tracking … Continued
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Eshelman Institute Awards $3.5 Million in June 2018 Funding Round
The Eshelman Institute for Innovation on June 1 funded projects proposed by 25 UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy faculty and staff members totaling more than $3.5 million. The Eshelman Institute was created by a $100 million gift from alumnus, philanthropist and pharmaceutical … Continued
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Microbiome Experts Gather for PharmSci 2018 Conference
The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy hosted the 12th annual Chapel Hill Pharmaceutical Sciences Conference on June 4, focused on the interface between drug delivery and the microbiome. Over 100 attendees gathered at the William and Ida Friday Center in … Continued
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Eshelman Institute Symposium Ignites Innovation
The Eshelman Institute for Innovation held its 2018 Igniting Innovation Symposium Thursday, April 19, at the Carolina Inn. The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception and poster session before attendees moved into the Hill Ballroom for a series of … Continued
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Antibody-Biogel Partnership Can Be Stronger Defense than Previously Thought, Study Proves
Strong molecular bonds between antibodies and biological gels like mucus aren’t necessary to catch pathogens as was previously thought, according to new research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In fact, rapid and weak interactions between antibodies … Continued
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PharmAlliance Inspires Student Researchers from Abroad
Faculty at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy hosted four students from University College London School of Pharmacy as part of the international PharmAlliance partnership. All final-year pharmacy students at UCL are required to complete three months of research. PharmAlliance … Continued
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E(I) Lab Names Winners in Second Annual Innovation Competition
The E(I) Lab Program, a competition launched by the UNC Eshelman Institute for Innovation that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation among multidisciplinary teams of UNC graduate and professional student, wrapped up its second cohort on April 29. The winning team received … Continued
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E(I) Lab Hosts Inaugural Final Presentations
The Carolina E(I) Lab, part of the Eshelman Institute for Innovation, concluded its pilot year by hosting final presentations from the inaugural cohort of student teams on Oct. 1, with the top four teams awarded monetary prizes. The presentations were … Continued
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Sam Lai Promoted to Associate Professor
Sam Lai, Ph.D., has been promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics. Lai’s research focuses on mucosal immunology and mucosal barriers to infectious disease, antibody response to synthetic materials, targeted nanoparticle delivery using bispecific fusion … Continued