Prof. Omid C. Farokhzad

At the Nanoscale, In the Expanse of Life
The Birth of a Motivation
“Live in such a way that your name and deeds remain eternal after your death,” was the advice Omid Farokhzad's father repeatedly imparted to his children. The result of being raised in a family of avid readers is a distinguished scientist in the field of nanomedicine. The foundation of this scientist's growth was a father who cherished reading, for whom books were an integral part of his life's, and who instilled this noble habit in his children. The influence of his father on Omid's life is so profound that he always tries to live up to his expectations. Omid, the fourth child of a middle-class family, was born on February 18, 1969. His childhood was spent in Tehran, where, during his early school years, he showed an interest in building electronic circuits and observing various things under a microscope. However, his passion for medical sciences blossomed a bit later. He attributes this interest to two key factors: the first spark was the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, whose harrowing scenes and the critical role of the medical community in it left a deep impact on him. The second factor was pursuing his education in a new environment; he studied biology at the University of Massachusetts, where, in addition to graduating, he also earned a minor in chemistry. It was at this stage that Omid Farokhzad became more determined to pursue medicine in order to enhance his social standing, which led him to attend Boston University, where he earned a master's degree in the field.
A Puzzle of Various Sciences
During his medical studies, Farokhzad went to the National Cancer Institute in the United States to complete a specialized fellowship. After finishing his medical education, he began a postdoctoral program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), working in the chemical engineering laboratory under the supervision of Robert Langer. Although his background was in molecular biology, he found himself in a lab where he needed to learn additional disciplines such as biomaterials and engineering. He believes these challenges and multidisciplinary training laid the foundation for his future research. In 2001, this researcher focused on a project involving the targeted delivery and controlled release of liposomal nanoparticles—tiny particles capable of delivering drugs with high precision to specific parts of the body. In this project, instead of using antigens as the standard protein molecule and relying on the lock-and-key mechanism, he utilized molecules called aptamers, which have a nucleic acid structure and offer greater advantages compared to antigens. The result of his efforts in this project was a paper that was accepted for publication in a specialized cancer research journal without receiving any negative feedback from scientific reviewers. After completing this journey and his postdoctoral program, Farokhzad began clinical training at Harvard Medical School at Brigham Hospital and became a faculty member at Harvard in 2004.
Farokhzad states that from the very beginning, he was deeply passionate about science, focusing more on research than clinical work, until he ultimately dedicated himself entirely to research. At a time when the application of nanotechnology in medicine and treatment was still largely unexplored, this innovative scientist established the Nanomedicine and Biomaterials Laboratory. After a decade, he expanded it into a Center for Nanomedicine, with nanobiotechnology forming the foundation of his work. The center's priority was to develop platforms and technologies that address a wide range of challenges rather than focusing on treating a single specific disease. Additionally, the center was highly active in publishing papers and securing patents. Subsequently, Farokhzad pursued studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management, earning an MBA. His mastery of diverse fields such as medicine, molecular biology, biomaterials, chemistry, engineering, and business had a significant impact on his career. Farokhzad attributes his successes, in addition to his other mentors, to Professor Robert Langer and his wife. Working alongside Langer, he learned that he could be both an academic and an entrepreneur. These two roles are not only compatible but can also inspire individuals to serve society and support young researchers.
Strike the Ground, Leap to the Sky
Resilience and adaptability are the defining philosophies of Farokhzad's life. He lives by the metaphor, “the harder a basketball strikes the ground, the higher it soars,” offering a lesson for our lives. In 2006, leveraging a grant from the National Institutes of Health, this researcher founded his first company, BIND, to bring his postdoctoral work to fruition. Although his ideas initially seemed impractical, he applied that same resilience and tenacity, making adjustments to the design of nanocarriers to successfully produce his company’s first product. He recalls, “When the first targeted nanoparticles we developed entered the human body, the news dominated headlines for weeks. One of the participants in our clinical trial was a woman with cervical cancer who had not responded to other treatments, but after the trial with our drug, her cancer was cured.” In the second phase of the project, the company faced a decline in the stock market, and ultimately, Pfizer acquired BIND. However, the harder the ball strikes the ground, the higher it will soar.
From Nanoparticles to Gout Treatment
The use of nanoparticles for inducing immune tolerance is known as ImmTOR. Previously, existing methods for creating immune tolerance using antigenic peptides or proteins failed to achieve desirable results in clinical trials. These approaches were largely ineffective due to the high antigenic and molecular complexity of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases arise from complex immune system reactions against the body’s own cells, tissues, or organs. In this context, nanotechnology has introduced new advancements capable of modulating immune responses. Nanoparticles can either activate or suppress the immune system. In 2008, Farokhzad took steps to improve gout treatment, a treatment that requires an enzyme called Uricase, which stimulates the immune system. For a patient to receive this enzyme, the body must recognize it as a self-protein. This is where ImmTOR, in combination with the Uricase enzyme, becomes significant. One of the major challenges in this approach was preventing an immune response to the injected nanoparticles. To address this issue, a collaboration between Farokhzad, Langer, and Ulrich H. von Andrian was formed, leading to the establishment of Selecta Biosciences. This company is working to develop immunomodulatory nanomedicines for the treatment and prevention of diseases, advancing these technologies from academic discoveries to clinical trials.
A Revolution in the Hands of Nanoparticles
In 2011, Farokhzad and his colleagues successfully advanced the first targeted nanoparticles with controlled release from discovery to human clinical trials. In the same year, he co-founded his third company, Tarveda Therapeutics. Another challenge was that when nanoparticles were injected into the body, a protein coating formed around them, affecting their performance. However, this issue did not hinder Farokhzad’s work; instead, it sparked a new idea. He realized that nanoparticles could be used to sample the proteome—the complete set of proteins in a living organism. This concept became the core focus of Seer, a company that develops precise tools for studying proteins using innovative methods. The ability to link genomic data to proteomic data is highly limited, primarily because access to the proteome lags behind access to the genome. Farokhzad’s efforts in this area enable scientists to access this information rapidly. Despite the high risks involved, if this idea is realized, it will yield remarkable results.
In 2018, Farokhzad resigned from his position as a professor at Harvard to establish Seer and bring this idea to fruition. That idea has now become a reality. The company’s product enables researchers and scientists to analyze biological samples, such as human blood, with greater precision and speed, accessing proteins that were previously undetectable. This capability is crucial for new discoveries and a deeper understanding of biological systems. The product can even be used for early cancer detection, as the proteome of a healthy individual differs from that of a patient. Three years after the foundation of the company, the first device, called Proteograph, was developed. The use of nanoparticles in treatment has a long history, dating back to the 1980s when drugs were encapsulated in liposomes or lipid nanoparticles. The scientific community’s current efforts focus on controlling the rate of drug release and delivering it precisely to specific sites in the body. These efforts stem from Farokhzad’s research on the regulated and targeted delivery of anticancer drugs, designed to affect only cancer cells.
On the Podium of Honor
Amid these activities, Farokhzad also received numerous awards. In 2016, he won the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and in 2014, he was awarded the Golden Door Award. In 2012, he received the Ernst & Young New England Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the following year, he won the RUSNANOPRIZE. In 2015, Farokhzad was named one of the top 100 pioneering and influential scientists in biotechnology by Scientific American. in 2018, this scientist joined the National Academy of Inventors. From 2014 to 2023, Thomson Reuters recognized him as one of the most highly cited researchers, and the Boston Globe named him one of Massachusetts’s outstanding innovators. Furthermore, Boston Business magazine selected this researcher as one of its healthcare heroes. Farokhzad has served on the editorial boards of various journals, including ACS Nano, Future Medicine, Precision Nanomedicine, Advanced Therapeutics, and Drug Delivery. He has authored over 185 articles and holds more than 200 registered and pending patents.
The technologies developed by Farokhzad and his colleagues have served as the foundation for launching several other companies. Among them is PrognomiQ, established in 2020, which focuses on developing products for the early detection and treatment of diseases. Placon Therapeutics, aimed at cancer treatment, and Blend Therapeutics, active in developing innovative drugs, are among the other companies.
Farokhzad, by integrating various scientific disciplines, has demonstrated that the boundaries of science are always expandable. Through the development of innovative technologies in the field of nanomedicine, he has opened new pathways for treating complex diseases. His efforts, alongside those of other researchers in this field, have contributed to advancements in knowledge and applied technologies in recent years and will continue to be part of the transformative developments in this domain in the future.
 

New Hope in Nano
The enemy, disguised in deceptive clothing, is infiltrating and spreading covertly. At a time when distinguishing between foe and ordinary citizen is impossible, how can the nation's security be preserved? In these critical and pivotal moments, we need commandos who have undergone specialized training to confront such situations. The difference between commandos and regular soldiers lies in their precision, high attack efficiency, and, consequently, their defense of the country. This is the story of our body, cancer, and the role of nanomedicines. Nanomedicines are elite commandos that effectively combat cancer cells—our enemies—without harming ordinary citizens, or the healthy cells of the body. However, every skilled commando needs a capable commander. A commander who has a clear understanding of both the enemy and their soldiers. In medical science and treatment, the role of the commander is played by the researcher who selects nanomedicines based on the various factors that cancer exhibits.
Microscopic Hero
Over time, treatment methods have advanced, yet concerns about maintaining health, preventing, and curing diseases persist. To continue progressing in the field of medicine and treatment, all eyes are now on nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has grown in the fields of engineering, physics, chemistry, and biotechnology, and it has now entered the medical field with immense potential for expansion and development in the coming decade and beyond. Although the application of nanotechnology in this area is still in its early stages, scientists aware of its potential are collaborating with other scientific disciplines to make significant strides in preventing, diagnosing, and treating human diseases, as well as alleviating pain, paving the way for an exciting future. Among them, Omid Farokhzad is a successful scientist whose research interests include drug delivery, nanotechnology-based treatments, and studying diseases like cancer. He has published numerous articles in these fields.
From Theory to Practice
Nano exhibits capabilities that medicine has not achieved to date, which is why it has captured the attention of many scientists, including Farokhzad. Nanomedicines demonstrate better absorption, leading to maximum efficacy and minimal toxicity. Their unique size (a significant increase in surface-to-volume ratio) enhances surface energy, thereby increasing the reactivity of the particles. Additionally, the electrical, mechanical, optical, and magnetic properties of various nanoparticles have expanded their applications. Furthermore, targeted drug delivery and the identification of tumors or infected areas are made possible with the help of these tiny particles. Their ability to bypass biological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier, and deliver drugs to the intended site is another remarkable potential of these magical particles. However, alongside all these positive attributes, it must be noted that developing nanomedicines is not as simple as we describe it. To create effective nanomedicines, understanding the physiopathological nature of diseases and the interaction of nanoparticle surfaces with their surrounding environment in biological fluids is crucial.
Farokhzad's Interdisciplinary Approach
The use of nanoparticles in medicine and treatment is the result of collaboration across various disciplines, including chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, physics, biology, biophysics, biochemistry, and even management, market monitoring, and leadership skills. Since Omid Farokhzad has studied biology, chemistry, medicine, and business management, and has worked in the fields of biomaterials and engineering, his interdisciplinary perspective has aided in the development and creation of nanomedicines. In this regard, he received the 2023 Mustafa(pbuh) Prize for the design, development, and clinical evaluation of novel polymer-based nanoparticle drugs.
The Symphony of Polymers and Nano
The complexity of certain diseases and the inherent toxicity of some drugs have heightened interest in developing and optimizing drug delivery systems. Polymeric nanoparticles are considered a key tool for improving the bioavailability of drugs, and their diversity makes them potentially ideal for meeting the needs of specific drug delivery systems. Polymeric materials have been used in a wide range of pharmaceutical and biotechnology products for over 40 years. In a 2012 article by Farokhzad, it is noted that new generations of polymeric nanoparticles have been engineered to deliver drugs in a targeted and controlled manner, and their precise design, combined with pharmacological optimization, can lead to improved safety and efficacy. These polymeric nanoparticles have the potential to transform into a new and highly distinctive type of therapy.
Modern pharmaceutics focuses on improving performance. The primary goal is to control the effect of drugs, extend their duration, and deliver them precisely to the target site in the body. Efforts are also made to address issues such as side effects, instability, and unwanted changes in drugs. In pursuit of this goal, another article by Omid Farokhzad explores the development of biodegradable polymers. These materials lead to significant advancements in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and the development of medical devices. The short half-life of many modern treatments and the toxicity of small-molecule drugs are the main driving forces behind the development of polymeric drug delivery methods. Polymers, due to their specific properties at the molecular and supramolecular scales, enable the design of more advanced drug delivery systems that can enhance drug properties and optimize their performance.
In one of his projects, Farokhzad investigates the use of a nanoparticle-aptamer combination for prostate cancer treatment. In this project, a coating of nanoparticles was first designed to encapsulate the target drug. This coating was made from two biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for clinical studies. The role of these polymers was to increase the drug's circulation half-life in the blood and reduce its uptake by non-target cells. The research team then designed an RNA-based aptamer capable of binding to specific receptors on prostate cells, receptors that are significantly more abundant in cancerous prostate cells. The results showed that the nanoparticle-aptamer bioconjugate could efficiently target and be absorbed by the intended cells. The research team believes that by optimizing this drug carrier model, significant progress can be made in treating many critical human diseases.
Another of Farokhzad’s achievements is the design of a nanocarrier used in immunotherapy. One type of immunotherapy involves creating cancer vaccines. In this method, a cancer antigen or its genetic code is injected into the body to stimulate the immune system to combat cancer cells. In addition to the vaccine, auxiliary compounds called adjuvants are typically introduced into the body to enhance the immune response by improving antigen presentation and processing, as well as making drug delivery more targeted. However, the primary challenge with adjuvants is their toxicity and side effects. Consequently, one of the main challenges in vaccine development is the modeling and clinical use of potent adjuvants. In 2014, Farokhzad and his team designed a nanocarrier that encapsulates and protects both the antigen and the adjuvant. These studies demonstrated that the designed nanocarrier enhances the immune response needed to fight cancer while also preventing the vaccine’s degradation by enzymes within the body.
Among the other achievements of this researcher is the design of drug-delivery nanotechnology tools known as bioresorbable drones, which deliver specific types of drugs to the body and contribute to the treatment of diseases related to atherosclerosis. Additionally, the design and development of a collagen patch embedded with nanoparticles is another of his accomplishments, intended for patients with severe injuries. These patches can deliver antibiotics and other drugs to accelerate the healing of broken bones and wounds in a more effective and controlled manner compared to current approaches, preventing infections and subsequent surgeries.
Before understanding the science of nanomedicine, we may not have had much hope to cure cancer. But now, humanity is devising methods to attack this enemy more effectively—attacks that, unlike chemotherapy and radiotherapy, do not destroy healthy cells and act with precision. It’s akin to training elite commandos who venture into the most dangerous situations for the safety of the nation and its citizens. These nano-commandos, led by brilliant researchers like Omid Farokhzad, herald a future where cancer will no longer be our invincible foe.