Dr. Ana Jaklenec

Dr. Ana Jaklenec, a principal research scientist and principal investigator at the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, is a leader in the fields of bioengineering and materials science, focused on controlled delivery and stability of therapeutics for global health. She has over 15 years of experience, and is an inventor of several drug delivery technologies that have the potential to enable equitable access to medical care globally. The Jaklenec lab at the Koch Institute is developing new manufacturing techniques for the design of materials at the nano- and micro-scale for self-boosting vaccines, 3D printed on-demand microneedles, heat stable polymer-based carriers for oral delivery of micronutrients and probiotics, and long-term drug delivery systems for cancer immunotherapy. She has published over 100 manuscripts, patents and patent applications and has founded three companies, Particles for Humanity, VitaKey, and OmniPulse Biosciences.

Dr. Jaklenec received a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Brown University. Dr. Jaklenec was elected to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Class of Fellows, the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors. She is the recipient of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She was elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows in 2022 for her work in controlled delivery of vaccines and heat-stable micronutrients for global health and was elected to the Controlled Release Society (CRS) 2022 College of Fellows for her research at the interface of engineering and immunology that utilizes precise fabrication and design of materials at the nano- and micro-scale for use in controlled drug delivery for global health.

The Jaklenec Research Lab at the MIT Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research works at the interface of engineering and immunology with a focus on global health. The lab develops innovative and translatable technologies to help large populations globally, especially in developing countries. Jaklenec has supervised over 50 pre- and postdoctoral students. She is an active member of the Biomedical Engineering Society, the Controlled Release Society, and the Society for Biomaterials.