UB PhD student receives Sigma Xi Grant in Aid of Research

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, is an international honor society of science and engineering. The GIAR program has supported graduate and undergraduate student research projects since 1922.

Weinstein was one of just four recipients awarded a grant in the Engineering category and one of only three awardees in New York State during the spring 2026 award cycle. She received a $700 grant to support her research project, “CRISPR/Cas9 Deactivator Priming to Increase Selectivity of Focused Ultrasound Mediated Brain Genome Editing.”

“It is really an honor to have been chosen by Sigma Xi for one of their Grants in Aid of Research,” Weinstein said. “This grant, in addition to directly supporting costs associated with my project, is a show of faith in the potential impact of my research. I feel motivated to keep pursuing high-quality scientific work and this whole experience has strengthened my confidence as an emerging researcher.” 

Weinstein’s research focuses on drug delivery vehicles for brain genome editing. Her proposed study seeks to neutralize the off-target effects of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tools when targeting the brain.

The project builds on previous work by her principal investigator, Yeh-Hsing "Sima" Lao, PhD, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences, who has used focused ultrasound (FUS) to transiently open the blood-brain barrier to deliver gene-editing tools to the brain without complex neurosurgery.

“When gene editors are sent to the brain via systemic administration, you would also see unwanted accumulation in tissues such as the liver and spleen,” Weinstein explained. “By pre-dosing with an ‘anti-Cas9’ agent, we can distribute a tool to all of the affected peripheral tissues to mitigate the unwanted gene editing,” she added. “This would allow the Cas9 to be inactivated systemically while remaining functional in the brain. Combining this strategy with FUS-based blood-brain barrier opening should allow targeted, brain-specific gene editing with minimal off-target effects in peripheral tissues.”

Weinstein extended her gratitude to those who have supported her research. “Firstly, I would like to acknowledge my PI, Dr. Lao. He is an amazing person to work with and has been the best mentor. This grant would not have been possible without his help. I'd also like to thank my family, as well as my friends in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.”