Sherouk Tawfik, a PhD candidate at the University of Connecticut, is The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for March 2026.
Her research, “Cholesterol-dependent control of endosomal escape regulates intracellular trafficking of small interfering RNA therapeutics and interactions with small molecule drugs,” investigates why many siRNA medicines fail to reach their targets inside cells, becoming trapped before they can work. She studies the cellular mechanisms that govern this process, particularly those that regulate endosomal trafficking and escape.
“Ultimately, I hope it contributes to a more integrated understanding of drug action, one that bridges molecular engineering with cellular biology,” Tawfik shared.