Dr. Sarah Hedtrich

@BowenLi_Lab @NatureMaterials Congrats, Bowen! Very cool work :)

Excited to share our latest work just published in @NatureMaterials on inhaled base editing for cystic fibrosis (CF).🫁 Read the full paper here: lnkd.in/eZbwT9eJ While CRISPR-based therapies hold immense potential, delivering these large molecular machineries to the lung has remained a significant challenge due to the complex airway mucus barrier and the need for high-efficiency transfection in target epithelial cells. To address this, we developed a modular platform to rapidly synthesize chemically diverse ionizable lipids. It allows us to incorporate both proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic alpha-amino acids, thereby creating biodegradable lipids with high structural diversity. 🔬 Key Highlights from the Study: 1. Lead Candidate CHCha-10: Through high-throughput screening, we identified CHCha-10, a cyclohexyl amino acid-derived lipid that forms nanoparticles with superior mucus penetration and epithelial-specific transfection. 2. Validation in Ferret Models: Beyond mouse studies, we evaluated CHCha-10 LNPs in juvenile ferrets, a gold-standard model for human lung disease. Our platform achieved robust, widespread editing in the airway epithelium and critical submucosal glands, which are essential sites for CFTR production. 3. Restoring Function in CF: By delivering adenine base editor (ABE) mRNA via inhalation to target the CFTR G542X mutation, we achieved over 12% on-target editing in CF mice. This led to a significant increase in CFTR protein expression and restored chloride channel function in patient-derived HBE cells and intestinal organoids. 4. Safety and Specificity: CHCha-10 LNPs demonstrated an improved biocompatibility profile with minimal off-target delivery to immune or endothelial cells compared to existing benchmarks. This work establishes a translatable, non-viral platform for RNA-based pulmonary gene correction, moving us a step closer to precise, durable treatments for genetic respiratory disorders. Huge thanks to my incredible co-authors and collaborators at the University of Toronto, SickKids, University of Iowa, Case Western, and across the network for their dedication to this project, and for the support from @CF_Foundation @CIHR_IRSC @NSERC_CRSNG @NIH @CFCanada @UofTPharmacy @UofTPRiME @UHN

@zhaoweiasu @MJMitchell_Lab @CellStemCell @rohan_palanki @lexandrePoirier Thank you! Yes-working on common skin diseases like eczema already. Prime editing is also planned. Many future applications for this :)

@MJMitchell_Lab @CellStemCell @rohan_palanki @lexandrePoirier @HedtrichLab Very cool! Any plans to try other, more common skin diseases, or to use prime editing as well?

Check out our latest @CellStemCell led @MJMitchell_Lab Postdocs @rohan_palanki @lexandrePoirier and PhD student Emily Fitzgerald on @HedtrichLab’s laser-assisted topical LNP delivery for base editing of the skin! Preview: doi.org/10.1016/j.stem… Article: doi.org/10.1016/j.stem…

Super proud of this work from my lab that has great translational potential and can fundamentally change how we treat skin diseases.

UBC researchers have developed the first gene-editing treatment for skin conditions. Safe, scalable and easy to apply topically, explore how the gene therapy could transform the treatment of skin disorders: news.ubc.ca/2026/01/first-…

@JCRnEDITORS @ubcpharmacy @SBME_UBC

Lung tissue-optimized gene editing in human cystic fibrosis models following topical application of lipid nanoparticles. | Sarah Hedtrich @ubcpharmacy | @HedtrichLab [Open Access] #GeneEditing #LipidNanoparticle #transmucosal #CysticFibrosis kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2…

I’m excited to speak at Nature Conferences this October. Join me and fellow researchers from across various disciplines to discuss insights on in vitro disease models and tissue engineering. Great line up of speakers! Abstract submissions welcome. 👉 go.nature.com/43xmvlH

🚨👩‍🔬👨‍🔬🧪My lab is still looking for a postdoc to develop gene editing therapies for genetic skin diseases in beautiful Vancouver! If you like great science and the outdoors, this is the place to be: ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfacul…

Join us in Belgrade 📌

📢My UBC lab is recruiting two postdocs: (1) focus on topically applicable gene therapies to rescue severe skin diseases, (2) bioengineering of complex human-based models harnessing organ-on-a-chip technology: @UBC (1) lnkd.in/dvcGqWaE (2) lnkd.in/dmYCA74K

Together with @HedtrichLab we co-edited a special issue @ADDReditors about dermal drug delivery. Dont miss to read our Editorial, highlighting all the contributions to the issue. Thanks to all authors and to @krishansheora14 for designing the figure. Link: kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2…

@glyconet_nce @HlthResearchBC Thanks @glyconet_nce and @HlthResearchBC for funding this important research!

We're proud to partner with @HlthResearchBC to support several BC researchers. Partnerships are integral to our mission of advancing #glycomics and #health. Together we accelerate discoveries that shape tomorrow.

@milicaruoft @BioSenseRS @ivanagadjanski @crnojevic Guess we missed each other by one week:

Nice visit to my home town Novi Sad Serbia last week at a brand new @BioSenseRS Biosense Institute @ivanagadjanski @crnojevic

Happy to share our latest publication in @WileyVCH, @AdvSciNews about #nanogels for mucosal drug delivery. Congrats @JakesUdabe et al for the excellent work and @alaromaine, @HedtrichLab for the collaboration! @POLYMAT_BERC, @Ikerbasque, @ehu_kimika onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ad…

Excellent opportunity at a great university!

Enjoying Berlin at night ❤️

We’re looking for a postdoc to lead an exciting new collaborative project with @WilliamsLab_UBC! The focus is on studying the dynamics of immune cell glycosylation in the tumor microenvironment. See posting for more details. Please like and RT! grad.ubc.ca/ad/58149

@Calderon_Lab @Polymat_BERC @Ikerbasque @ehu_kimika Congrats, Marcelo! Very well deserved!

Very happy to receive a #LeonardoGrant of @FundationBBVA! A great milestone for our group and our institute. @Polymat_BERC, @Ikerbasque, @ehu_kimika

Join! A must see for OoC and bioengineering folks!