Kevin Mwangi
PhD Fellow – Lab of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy (LGBPP) – Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGent
Researcher – Vaccine and Delivery Group – Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UGent
Principal Investigators: Prof. Stefaan De Smedt (PhD), dr. Ine Lentacker (PhD) and dr. Rein Verbeke (PhD)
Research focus
My PhD research focuses on the development of mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines as immunotherapy for lung cancer, specifically using the Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) model. The aim is to stimulate robust anti-tumor immune responses through engineered Galsomes, LNPs incorporating α-galactosylceramide (αGC) to activate invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells.
A key part of my work involves enhancing antigen presentation by dendritic cells using targeted delivery strategies, with the goal of improving CD8+ T cell activation. I also investigate bystander activation of unconventional T cells, such as MAIT cells, γδ T cells, and NK cells, to amplify the therapeutic immune response.
The research integrates nanoparticle formulation, cellular transfection assays, immune profiling via flow cytometry, and in vivo tumor efficacy studies, contributing toward the design of next-generation cancer vaccines.
Biography
PhD fellow at Ghent University, working within the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. His research focuses on the development of mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines for lung cancer immunotherapy. My project explores how lipid-based carriers incorporating α-galactosylceramide (αGC) can activate invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells , γδ T cells, and NK cells and induce broader antitumor immunity. Was awarded the VLIR-UOS Best Master's Thesis Award in 2023 for his outstanding MSc research on bacteriophage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics, conducted in collaboration with NITTE University in India and Ghent University. Am passionate about translational immunotherapy and the design of next-generation cancer vaccines.
Key publications
- Preclinical toxicological assessment of an α-galactosylceramide-adjuvanted mRNA cancer vaccine in Wistar Han rats and domestic pigs. Mol. Ther. Methods Clin. Dev. 2025
- Immunopeptidomics identified antigens for mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines with alpha-galactosylceramide in multiple myeloma therapy. J Immunother Cancer. 2025 (PMID: 40300855)
Contact & links
- Lab address: Campus Heymans, Ottergemse Steenweg 460, 2nd floor, 9000 Gent, Belgium
- Vaccine Delivery Group
- Kevin Waweru Mwangi is interested to receive invitations for talks and presentations