Edward Kelly, PhD, MS

Dr. Kelly earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Palmiter, developing transgenic and knockout mouse models to study the function of the metal-binding protein metallothionein. Following a post-doctoral fellowship in molecular toxicology at the Department of Environmental Health with Dave Eaton, he ventured into Biotech, managing the Preclinical Bioanalytics group at Targeted Genetics Corporation, evaluating the safety and efficacy of gene therapies for diseases such as cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and hemophilias. Upon his return to academia, his research interests have stayed within the realm of preclinical biology. The focus of his lab is on ex vivo modeling of human organ physiology and toxicological responses to drug/xenobiotic challenge. This research makes use of “organs on chips” or microphysiological systems (MPS) populated with primary and stem-cell derived cell types to recapitulate two key ADME organs, the liver and kidney. Recent work is extending MPS technologies to model human diseases, as well as how organs respond to the extreme environment of microgravity on the International Space Station.