An Exclusive Helix Biotech Interview with Professor Dan Peer

Dan Peer - Vice President for Research and Development at Tel Aviv University, Founder of NeoVac

Introducing Peer

Professor Dan Peer, a professor at Tel Aviv University, is a globally recognized leader in RNA-based medicine. For nearly two decades, his lab has been at the forefront of developing novel and advanced methods of RNA therapeutics. His research has helped pave the way for new  treatments for cancer, genetic disorders, and infectious diseases. In a conversation with him we were able to explore his research journey, his perspective on the future of RNA therapy, and how technologies like Helix’s Nova Benchtop are supporting innovation in real time.

For those who may not know, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your research focus?

“Our lab has done several pioneering works: We were the first to show systemic, cell specific delivery of siRNAs to leukocytes in an animal; the first to show systemic, cell specific delivery of mRNA that encodes for a therapeutic protein in an animal model; the first to show high efficiency, therapeutic genome editing in cancer in a cell specific manner and two years ago the first bacterial mRNA Vaccine among others. We also generated a very large lipid library and some of these lipids are currently being tested in clinical trials.”

Connecting Peer to Helix

To keep pace with medical breakthroughs, technology in bioscience must also advance.

As Peer and his team continue to pioneer RNA-based therapeutics and targeted nanomedicine we asked if he could share how the integration of the Nova BT instrument has influenced his research. 

Peer emphasized how the Nova BT IJM system streamlined his lab’s lipid nanoparticle production. When asked about the Nova’s impact on his research, “the Nova system improves the production of LNPs and aids in testing novel targeted strategies in an easy to scale manner.”

Building on his many accomplishments, Peer and his lab continue to push the boundaries of RNA research and expand what’s possible in therapeutic development.

When asked which current projects excite him most, he pointed to two areas with enormous potential: “We are super excited about therapeutic genome editing in cancer. We currently have several projects in the lab for different types of tumors. We are also super excited about novel ways to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with RNAs.”

The Future of RNA Therapy

For researchers considering adopting the Nova instrument, what insights or experiences from your lab's usage would you share to guide their decision?

Peer pointed out that one of the biggest advantages of the Nova system is how easy it is to use.

Nova offers a more straightforward experience that works well for both new and experienced researchers.

“I think that the fact that you do not need to use chips per each preparation, the system is robust and excellent for both beginners and advanced researchers in the field. Just plug and play.”

Looking Forward with Peer

In a lab focused on advancing RNA-based therapies, careful consideration goes into selecting research partners and sourcing critical materials. As a supplier of high-quality RNA to their lab, we were curious to learn more about the criteria that guide their sourcing decisions. What factors do you consider when sourcing RNA for your research, and how do these decisions impact the success of your projects?

“Quality of the RNA, timelines and price. These are the issues that drive our decisions.”

While Peer and his lab are recognized as global leaders in RNA therapy, they remain focused on what’s next. Their position at the forefront of therapeutic innovation allows them not only to look ahead, but to help define the direction of RNA medicine.

What is the long-term vision of Dan Peer? How do you see your research and innovations evolving over the next 5-10 years?

“This is a million dollar question – I do think that we are within a revolution time. As in the 80th in protein therapeutics, we are in a new era. My hope is to see more effective genome editing strategies to cure rare genetic diseases and more cancer therapies at a high specificity with minimal off target effects. Since I am not a profit (I wish I was) I would also say that the real future is in the non-coding RNAs (long and short) and maybe these unique unknowns will bring more knowledge to us all.”

Professor Dan Peer and his lab continue to redefine the possibilities of RNA-based medicine. With his driven team and innovative tools like the Nova BT, Peer’s lab continues to stand at the forefront of a complex and evolving field. Designed to keep up with the pace in his lab, they use the Nova as part of their workflow to redefine RNA-based medicine. Coupling innovative thoughts and ideas with technological advancements of today, the future is already taking shape in labs like his.