Frontline Science

Zhen Gu, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, was named a 2016 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow for his pioneering research on new methods to fight cancer and diabetes.

Close up of Dr. Zhen Gu working in his lab

This is just the latest accolade for Gu. In 2015, he was heralded by MIT Technology Review as one of “35 Innovators Under 35.” And the American Diabetes Association — which tapped Gu to join its ambitious Pathway to Stop Diabetes initiative — hailed him as one of “a new generation of brilliant scientists at the peak of their creativity.”

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Since joining NC State, Gu has created dozens of innovative techniques that seek to deliver the right drug to the right place at the right time. His interdisciplinary research draws on biomolecular engineering, materials chemistry, nanotechnology and other fields in an effort to maximize the impact of therapeutic medications.

From a smart insulin patch that mimics the function of pancreatic cells, to nanoscale delivery systems that act as anti-cancer smart bombs, Gu’s work leads the fight against some of our most pernicious diseases.