Nance Lab
Disease-Directed Engineering
​Elizabeth Nance, Ph.D.
Jagjeet and Janice Bindra Career Development Associate Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies
Associate Professor of Bioengineering
Adjunct Professor of Radiology
Affiliate Member of eSciences Institute | Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute | Institute for Human Development and Disability
Office: Benson Hall 243
Phone: 206-543-2216
Email: eanance@uw.edu
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Editor in Chief, Bioengineering & Translational Medicine
An AIChE Journal supported by Wiley Publishing
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Dr. Nance’s interdisciplinary background lies at the interface of engineering, neurosciences, data sciences, and translational medicine - she is an extensive collaborator in the pediatric, neurology, pathology and neurobiology fields. Elizabeth has expertise in (1) developing nanoparticles that are capable of focally targeting disease tissue and specific cells within the brain, while providing sustained action of a therapeutic agent; (2) evaluating uptake, distribution, and transport of nanoparticles in healthy and perinatal/neonatal models of inflammation-induced brain injury, and in other disease models or organs; (3) live animal imaging, live tissue imaging, and complex immunofluorescent staining and imaging; (4) developing neurobehavioral assessments of nanoparticle efficacy in neuroinflammation-mediated animal models of brain disease, in 3 different species (rabbit, rat, mouse); and (5) integration of multi-scale, multi-modal data sets to better understand the underlying biology and pathology, and implementation of nanotechnology as probes or therapeutics.
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Elizabeth joined the University of Washington in September 2015 as the first Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering. She received her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering under the advisement of Dr. Justin Hanes, and Bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University in Chemical Engineering. At NC State, she participated in undergraduate research in the lab of Dr. Bob Kelly, and in the lab of Dr. Steven Peretti. Prior to starting her faculty position, she completed a postdoc with Dr. Sujatha Kannan in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine (research focus area in neuroscience) at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Elizabeth lives in Washington with her husband Dr. Tommy Wood, and their two boxers, Morgan and Bowen.
Awards
2024 Fellow, Controlled Release Society
2023 Vaughan Lectureship, CalTech University Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
2022 Faculty Appreciation for Career Education & Training Award, University of Washington
2021 Distinguished Young Alumni Award, NC State Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
2021 Mellichamp Lectureship, Purdue University Davison School of Chemical Engineering
2020 ASEE Curtis W. McGraw Research Award Finalist (top 5 in U.S.)
2020 Jagjeet and Janice Bindra Endowed Career Development Professorship
2020 Bioengineering & Translational Medicine ‘Future’ Leader in the Field, BioTM Editorial Board
2020 Faculty Appreciation for Career Education & Training Award, University of Washington
2020 Celebrate Womxn award, University of Washington Residential Life
2019 Presidential Early Career Achievement in Science & Engineering (PECASE) award, Office of Science and Technology Policy, White House
2019 Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, University of Washington
2019 Faculty Appreciation for Career Education & Training Award, University of Washington
2019 College of Engineering Junior Faculty Award, University of Washington
2018 Early Career Achievement Award in STEM, Association of Women in Science (AWIS)
2018 45 Under 45 Young Innovator Award in Nanobiotechnology, Nano Research Editorial Board
2018 NANOMED Young Inspiring Scientist, European Union’s Horizon 20/20 Program
2015 Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professorship, Luce Foundation
2015 30 Under 30 for Science & Medicine, Forbes Magazine
2015 Paper of the Year Award, Controlled Release Society
2014 Career Award at Scientific Interfaces Awardee, Burroughs Wellcome Fund
2014 Award for Research Excellence, Johns Hopkins Center for Nanomedicine
2014 Annual Scientific Award Winner, Society of Critical Care Medicine
2013 Annual Research Award Winner, Johns Hopkins Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine
2013 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Hartwell Foundation
2013 Applications in Neural Stereology Certification, Stereology Resource Center
2012 Award for Research Excellence, Johns Hopkins Center for Nanomedicine
2005 Frank and Doris Culbertson Endowed Scholarship, NC State University
2005 Omega Chi Epsilon Chemical Engineering Society, Inducted
2005 Master Certification, College Reading and Learning Association
2004 Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Inducted
2003 All-South Female Soccer Player (All-American, High School)
2003 Regional Female Athlete of the Year (High School), North Carolina
2003 Regional Female Soccer Player of the Year (High School), North Carolina
1998 Good Citizen Award, Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington D.C.
Patents
Patents awarded
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Hanes J., Nance E., Woodworth G. (2019). Rapid diffusion of large polymeric nanoparticles in the mammalian brain. USPTO 10307372 [155]
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Kannan R., Kannan S., Nance E., Blue M., Johnston M.V., Baumgartner W., Zhang F., Wilson M.A., Slusher B. (2017). Dendrimer compositions and use in treatment of neurological and cns disorders. USPTO 15502744
Patents filed​
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Nance E., Joseph A., Nyambura C., Pfaendtner J., Wood T. Enzyme-loaded polymeric nanoparticles and methods of manufacture and use of same. Patent Application filed 7/14/2023; PCT/US2022/073650
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Nance E., Du E., Wood T. Nanoparticle-mediated DNA repair through cellular delivery of NAD+ precursors. Patent Application filed 9/13/2024; PCT/US2024/046765
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Nance E., Wood T., Du E., Trinh H.., Zu R., Chen C. DNA repair through nanotherapeutic delivery of NAD+ precursors, Patent Application filed 9/13/2024; PCT/US2024/046763
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Balistreri G., Roumeli E., Nance E. Bacterial cellulose derived nanoparticles and uses thereof. Patent Application filed 9/18/2024; PCT/US2024/047283
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Vojtech L., Nguyen N.P., Shahrokh S., Zhang M., Nance E. Oligomer barcode for labeling extracellular vesicles. Patent Application Filed October 31, 2023.
Women in Chemical Engineering
In January 2016, Elizabeth founded Women in Chemical Engineering (WChE), an organization for graduate and undergraduate student women ChemEs, and their male allies, focused on empowering, strengthening, and promoting the network of women ChemEs across all levels, while not enabling self-stereotyping or stereotype threat.
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The organization's first chapter started at UW. The 2nd chapter was founded in 2018 at the University of Virginia, and the 3rd chapter was founded in 2019 at the University of Southern California.
If you are interested in starting a WChE chapter at your institution, please contact eanance@uw.edu.
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To learn more, go to www.wcheuw.com
Leadership
LEADERSHIP - CURRENT
Department Leadership
2020 – present UW Chemical Engineering Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies
2017 – present UW Chemical Engineering Microscopy Shared Laboratory, Lead
University Leadership
2023 – present Invent@Seattle Children’s, Steering Committee member & mentor
2023 – present UW Faculty Senate, Faculty Conciliator
Professional Leadership
2024 – 2028 NIH Innovations in Nanosystems and Nanotechnology (INN) Study Section, Standing Member
2022 – present Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, Editor in Chief
2019 – present AIChE Area 22B Co-Chair, Programming committee
2018 – 2024 WChE National Coordinator for new chapters – 5 new chapters have been founded since 2018
Advisory Boards, Editorial Boards, and Board of Director Roles
2023 – present Journal of Controlled Release Editorial Board Member
LEADERSHIP – COMPLETED
2023 – 2024 UW Chemical Engineering Faculty Search Committee, Co-Chair, Associate/Full Professor
2022 – 2023 UW Chemical Engineering Faculty Search Committee, Chair, Tenure track assistant professor
2021 – 2022 UW Chemical Engineering Faculty Search Committee, Co-Chair
Tenure-track Assistant Professor search
Teaching Assistant Professor search
2020 – 2021 UW Chemical Engineering Faculty Search Committee, Co-Chair
Tenure-track Assistant Professor search
Teaching Assistant Professor search
2020 – 2021 UW College of Engineering DEIS Subcommittee, Committee Co-chair
2020 – 2021 UW College of Engineering Strategic Planning, Steering Committee Member
2019 – 2020 UW Chemical Engineering Faculty Search Committee, Co-Chair
2018 – 2021 UW Chemical Engineering Diversity Committee, Chair
2017 – 2019 UW Faculty Senate Chair’s Council
2016 – 2021 Fred Hutch Interdisciplinary Training Grant in Cancer, Steering committee member
2016 – 2023 Women in Chemical Engineering (WChE), Seattle WA, Founder, Faculty Advisor
2021 – 2022 Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, Associate Editor
2021 – 2022 13th Hershey Conference on Developmental Brain Injury, Planning committee
2020 – 2022 Controlled Release Society Central Nervous System Focus Group, co-founder and vice chair
2020 AIChE Chemical Engineers in Medicine: Topical, Programming committee
2019 – 2020 AIChE Molecular and Materials Data Science: Topical, Programming committee
Service
Current in Bold
UNIVERSITY SERVICE
UW Departmental service
2024 Bioengineering Graduate admissions application reviewer, ad hoc
2022 Bioengineering Promotion & Tenure Review Committee, Member
2022 Bioengineering Graduate admissions application reviewer, Ad hoc
2022 – present Chemical Engineering Department Faculty Support Committee, Member
2021 – 2022 Medical Science Training Program Interview Committee, Member
2021 – present Chemical Engineering Department IDEA Committee, Member
2020 Chemical Engineering Graduate admissions application reviewer, Ad hoc
2020 Chemical Engineering Undergraduate admissions application reviewer, Ad hoc
2020 – 2023 Chemical Engineering Committee Chairs Advisory Council, Member
2019 – 2020 Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Affairs Committee, Member
2018 – 2019 Chemical Engineering Faculty Search Committee, Member
2017 – 2018 Chemical Engineering Faculty Search Committee, Member
2016 – 2017 Chemical Engineering Strategic Planning Committee – Health and Medicine in ChemE, Member
2016 – 2024 WChE Annual Industry Event Committee, Lead/Faculty Advisor
2016 – 2020 Chemical Engineering Discovery Days Department Committee, Co-Chair
2016 – 2018 Chemical Engineering Departmental Diversity Committee, Member
2016 – present UW Chemical Engineering AIChE Annual Student Conference, Recruiter
2016 – present Chemical Engineering Pre-health track, Faculty Advisor
2015 – present Chemical Engineering ABET committee: undergraduate curriculum accreditation, Member
2015 – 2020 Chemical Engineering Department Seminar Series, Committee Co-Chair
UW College of Engineering service
2020 – 2026 Council on Education Policy, Department of Chemical Engineering representative (two 3-year terms)
2020 COE Awards, Reviewer
2017 – 2024 COE Advising & Orientation, Faculty Speaker
2016 – 2019 Engineering Discovery Days, Faculty Participant and Exhibit Leader
2016 – 2018 NSF STARS Scholarship grant, Faculty Mentor
2016 – 2017 UW SWE Welcome night, Speaker
University of Washington service
2024 UW Mary Gates Scholarship, Application Reviewer
2022 - present UW School of Medicine MSTP Program, Interviewer
2022 UW Mary Gates Symposium, Abstract Reviewer, Session Chair
2021 UW Husky 100 Award, Ad hoc Reviewer
2020 UW STARS Program, Research Supervisor
2018 – 2021 UW Royalty Research Fund, Ad hoc Reviewer
2017 – 2021 UW New Husky Advising & Orientation, Faculty Speaker
2017 – 2024 Pre-Health Planning: Getting Great Recommendation Letters, Panelist
2016 – 2021 STEMM Prep program, Distance Learning Center, Research Mentor
2016 – 2019 UW Goldwater Candidate Selection Committee, Member
2016 – 2018 UW WiSE Bridge-Up Summer Research Program, Research Mentor
2016 – 2018 UW Math Academy, Workshop host
2015 – 2018 Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE), UW Chapter, Seattle WA, Faculty Mentor, speaker
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Editorial Responsibilities
2020 – 2022 Springer Publishing, Book Editor: Engineered Biomaterials for Neural Applications
2018 – 2019 Science Translational Medicine Associate Scientific Advisor
Completed Proposal Reviews
2023 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award, Ad hoc Reviewer
2023 NSF Engineering Biomedical Systems, Ad hoc Reviewer
2023 NIH Bioengineering of Neuroscience and Vision Technologies (BNVT) Study Section, Ad hoc Reviewer
2022 NIH Nano Study Section, Ad hoc Reviewer
2022 M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Ad hoc Reviewer
2022 Engineering Cancer Cures Program, Ad hoc Reviewer
2021 NIH Nano Study Section, Ad hoc Reviewer
2019 Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research, Ad hoc Reviewer
2019 Arkansas Breast Cancer Research Program Pilot Award Program, Ad hoc Reviewer
2019 NIH National Center for Advancing Translation Sciences Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program, Ad hoc Reviewer
2019 National Science Centre (Poland), Ad hoc Reviewer
2019 Charles Hood Foundation, Ad hoc Reviewer
2018 Luxembourg National Research Fund, Ad hoc Reviewer
2018 NSF BMAT Division Study Section, Rotating Member
2018 NSF GRFP Reviewer
2017 NSF CISE Division Study Section, Rotating Member
2017 – 2021 ITHS TL-1 Fellowship Selection Committee, Reviewer
2016 – 2021 UW-Fred Hutch Interdisciplinary Training Grant in Cancer, Reviewer
Journal Referee
Accounts of Chemical Research, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, ACS Nano, ACS Omega, ACS Sensors, Acta Biomaterials, Advanced Healthcare Materials, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, AIChE Journal, Analytical Chemistry, Biomaterials, Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, Cell Biology and Toxicology, Current Drug Metabolism, Drug Delivery & Translational Research, FASEB Journal, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Journal of Controlled Release, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, Journal of Neuroinflammation, Journal of Reproductive Immunology, JoVE, Nano Research, Nanobiomedicine, Nanomedicine, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine, Nature Reviews Materials, Nature Nanotechnology, Neurochemistry International, NeuroReport, Pharmaceutics, Science, Science Advances, Scientific Reports, Science Translational Medicine, Theranostics
Conference Session Chairing
Current
2019 –present AIChE Bionanotechnology: Plenary (Invited Talks), Co-Chair
2018 – present AIChE Bionanotechnology Graduate Student Award Sessions I and II, Co-Chair
Completed
2022 Drug Carriers in Medicine and Biology, Gordon Research Conference, Discussion Lead
2022 Controlled Release Society Annual Meeting, Nervous System Delivery Session, Chair
2020 AIChE Training Chemical Engineers for Medical Careers Session, Topical Conference on Chemical Engineers in Medicine, Co-Chair
2020 – 2022 AIChE Chemical Engineering Principles Advancing Medicine Session, Topical Conference on Chemical Engineers in Medicine, Co-Chair
2020 AIChE Applications of Data Science to High Throughput Experimentation Session, Topical Conference
in Molecular and Materials Data Science, Co-Chair
2019 AIChE Medical Devices II Session, Topical Conference on Chemical Engineers in Medicine, Co-Chair
2019 – 2021 AIChE Topical Plenary: Topical Conference in Molecular and Materials Data Science (Invited Talks), Co-Chair
2017 Controlled Release Society Annual Meeting, Overcoming Biological Barriers Session, Chair
2016 – 2018 AIChE Bionanotechnology Drug and Gene delivery Sessions I and II, Co-Chair
2016 American Society of Mechanical Engineering Nano-Biotechnology Meeting, Graduate Student Award Session, Co-Chair
Conference Abstract Reviewer
2022 Hershey Conference on Development Injury
2020 – 2021 Controlled Release Society Annual Meeting
2017 – 2018 Controlled Release Society Annual Meeting
2017 Western Conference on Perinatal Research
2016 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Nanoengineering for Medicine and
Biology Conference
2014 – present American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting
COMMUNITY SERVICE
2020 – present Junior faculty mentor for faculty at US-based institutions (6-8 conversations/month)
2019 – present MustLuv Boxer Rescue, 501c3 Non-Profit, Pacific Northwest, transporter
2018 – present Mentor and advisor for any student, faculty, staff facing conflict in their employment at UW (10-15 hours/month)
2017 – present Mentor for 5-12th grade students exploring engineering, health and medicine, or neuroscience (10-15 mentoring exchanges/month)
2016 – present Faculty candidate mentor for underrepresented chemical engineering and biomedical engineering candidates (7-10 mentees/year)
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2025 UPrep Engineering Exploration; University Prep High School, Seattle WA; guest speaker
2024 UPrep Engineering Exploration; University Prep High School, Seattle WA; guest speaker
2023 JHU Center for Nanomedicine Alumni Careers, guest speaker
2023 AIChE Self-advocacy Panel, panelist
2023 CRS Young Scientist Committee Editor’s Perspective on Publishing Panel, panelist
2022 Northwest Science Writers Association, guest speaker and public lecture “Nanotechnology and uses for brain disease”; September 15, 2022
2021 STEMM 4 Girls, speaker
2021 AIChE Women in ChemE (WIC), consultant
2021 WChE-USC, guest speaker
2020 Horizons by Hopkins Professional Development Conference, speaker and panelist
2020 Experiences of Black STEM in the Ivory: A Call for Disruptive Action, organizing committee
2019 – 2022 USC Women in Chemical Engineering Chapter, Palo Alto, CA, external advisor
2018 – 2021 UVA Women in Chemical Engineering Chapter, Charlottesville VA, external advisor
2018 – 2021 STEM Career Fair, Bellevue School System, Bellevue WA, Speaker, event consultant
2015 – 2017 STEM Career Fair, Bellevue School System, Bellevue WA, Panelist
2013 – 2015 Children’s Science Center, Herndon VA, Science Writer, Communications and Marketing
2013 – 2014 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Bethesda MD, Member, Revenue Strategic Action Team
2012 – 2013 Thread (formerly Incentive Mentoring Program), Baltimore MD, Director of Post-Graduate Affairs, Co-Chair of the Professional Development Academy
2009 – 2014 Adopt a Boxer Rescue, Mid-Atlantic/Northeast, transporter
2008 – 2015 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Bethesda MD, Member, Maryland Chapter Fundraising
2008 – 2010 Incentive Mentoring Program (now Thread), Baltimore MD, High School Family Director
2003 – 2005 Prevent High School DropOut (PHD) Mentoring Program, Raleigh NC, Founder and Director
1996 – 1999 Loaves and Fishes, Charlotte NC, Mecklenburg County Food Drive Organizer