Kuo-Ching “KC” Mei, PhD
Assistant Professor of Molecular Pharmaceutics
College of Pharmacy, University of Utah

Academic Background and Training

Dr. Mei brings a global perspective to pharmaceutical sciences, trained across leading institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan. His academic path includes:

  • PhD in Pharmaceutics – King’s College London, University of London, UK (Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
    (Advisors: Khuloud T. Al-Jamal; Robert C. Hider)

  • MRes (Distinction) – University College London, University of London, UK (School of Pharmacy)

  • BS Pharmacy – Taipei Medical University (Licensed Pharmacist, Taiwan)

  • Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School

Postdoctoral training further expanded his expertise:

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Division of Pharmacoengineering & Molecular Pharmaceutics (Advisor: Juliane Nguyen)

  • UCLA, School of Medicine & California NanoSystems Institute (Advisor: Andre E. Nel)

Before fully transitioning into academia, Dr. Mei gained industrial R&D experience in the pharmaceutical industry, developing complex formulations for controlled drug-delivery systems.

Research Vision

The MEI Lab is dedicated to advancing the field of molecular pharmaceutics by developing next-generation technologies for drug, gene, and cell delivery. Our work spans fundamental chemistry and pharmaceutics to translational applications, with the goal of enabling safer and more effective therapies for patients.

Core areas of interest include:

  • Lipid and non-viral gene delivery systems for RNA and DNA therapeutics

  • Immunoengineering approaches for vaccines, immunotherapies, and immune tolerance strategies

  • Drug and protein delivery platforms designed for clinical translation

  • Cell-targeted delivery strategies to modulate the immune system in cancer, genetic disease, and autoimmunity

Our overarching vision is to bridge molecular design and clinical application, building platforms that address critical challenges in therapeutic delivery while training the next generation of pharmaceutics scientists.

Mentorship Philosophy

Dr. Mei believes that scientific training is most impactful when it combines rigorous scholarship, creativity, and mentorship tailored to each trainee’s strengths. Students in the MEI Lab can expect:

  • A collaborative and supportive environment that values curiosity and innovation

  • Structured training in experimental design, critical analysis, and scientific communication

  • Opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary research, spanning chemistry, biology, and medicine

  • Mentorship geared toward career development, whether in academia, industry, or translational science

Prospective trainees are encouraged to join the MEI Lab if they are motivated to tackle challenging problems in drug, gene, and cell delivery, and if they aspire to transform discoveries into meaningful advances for patients.