MacKenzie Wright

Experience

1. Research Intern

   NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

   Jan 2025 — Present · NY, US

   As a Research Intern at the Correa Lab, I focus on developing novel drug delivery systems for pancreatic cancer therapy. Under the mentorship of PhD student Sarah Bortel, I am acquiring specialized skills in formulation science, immunology, and cancer biology.My main summer project centered on improving the solubility and delivery of G150, a small-molecule cGAS-STING pathway activator, through liposomal encapsulation. I prepared formulations using thin-film hydration, extrusion, and dialysis, then characterized them with Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Nanodrop, and HPLC to assess size, stability, and encapsulation efficiency. I further tested immune activation and efficacy with THP-1 Dual Reporter cell assays, evaluating whether liposomal G150 maintained its immune-modulating function while achieving better potency than the free drug. This work contributed to strategies for stabilizing promising but poorly soluble compounds for cancer treatment.Building on this experience, my current project explores how hydrogels can be engineered to retain therapeutic bacteria in the bladder for longer periods, addressing challenges in bladder cancer treatment where frequent washout limits efficacy. This involves designing hydrogels with silica nanoparticles and custom polymers to protect bacteria while enabling sustained release.Through these projects, I am gaining hands-on expertise in nanoparticle formulation, biocompatibility testing, and translational cancer research, while contributing to the lab’s broader efforts to create biomaterial-based therapies.

Education

• Avenues The World School

  High School Diploma