Principal Investigator
Dr. Jessica Pullan
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
I am a pharmaceutical chemist with a focus on nanoparticles. Research interest include nanoparticle drug delivery and nanoparticle diagnostics. Looking specifically at extracellular vesicles.
Background
Positions & Education
Recognition
Awards & Honors
Focus Areas
Research Interests
Our lab investigates how biological and synthetic nanoparticles can be engineered to detect and treat disease at the molecular level.
Nanoparticle Drug Delivery
Designing lipid-based and biological nanoparticles to deliver therapeutic agents more precisely, with the goal of improving treatment effectiveness while reducing unwanted side effects.
Extracellular Vesicles
Studying tiny particles naturally released by cells that can carry proteins, lipids, and genetic material. The lab explores how extracellular vesicles, including those derived from bovine milk, may be modified for future use in drug delivery and diagnostics.
GDF-15 Targeting for Hyperemesis Gravidarum
One branch of our research group uses molecular and biochemical approaches to better understand diseases that significantly impact women’s health, with a primary focus on hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
Nanoparticle Diagnostics
Developing nanoparticle-based tools that may help detect or visualize disease in less invasive ways, including biological platforms with potential imaging applications.
Oncology Applications
Exploring new therapeutic approaches for aggressive cancers, including pancreatic cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and glioblastoma, by studying drug delivery platforms, tumor biology, and molecular targets.
Clinical Translation
Examining the steps needed to move promising laboratory discoveries toward patient care, including safety, compatibility, experimental design, and the practical challenges of developing nanoparticle-based therapies.
Partners
Collaborations
Rocky Vista University
Exploring GDF-15
People
The Team
Alumni · 19
Culture
Our Lab Culture
Selected Works
Recent Publications
Peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Full bibliography →
Funding
Grants & Support
Teaching
Courses
Elementary Organic-Biochemistry Lab
The lab that accompanies Elementary Organic-Biochemistry (CHEM 1120).
Biological Chemistry
The structures and stabilities of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, and an introduction to animal metabolism, with a focus on enzyme mechanisms and how metabolic pathways are regulated.
Chemical Literature and Seminar
Introduces chemistry majors to the chemical literature and how to search it, with practice preparing technical manuscripts and giving oral presentations.
Chemistry Cornerstone
Helps students build academic and research skills early in their time at SUU, and explore education and career paths in chemistry and beyond.
Pharmaceutics
An upper-division selected-topics course in pharmaceutics, covering advanced and current topics in how drugs are formulated and delivered.
Elementary Chemistry Lab
The lab that accompanies Elementary Chemistry (CHEM 1110).
Introduction to Chemistry
A general education course on the fundamentals of chemistry and how they apply to everyday life. Offered online.
Principles of Chemistry I Lab
The lab that accompanies Principles of Chemistry I (CHEM 1210).
Principles of Chemistry I
The first semester of general chemistry, for students in engineering, the physical sciences, and pre-health programs such as pre-med, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, and pre-vet.
Elementary Organic-Biochemistry
An introduction to organic chemistry and biochemistry, from hydrocarbons and functional groups to an overview of biochemical processes. Designed for pre-nursing students, biology majors, and other programs that need one year of chemistry.
Elementary Chemistry
An introduction to general and inorganic chemistry for pre-nursing students, biology majors, and other programs that need one year of chemistry.
Principles of Chemistry II Lab
The lab that accompanies Principles of Chemistry II (CHEM 1220).
Media
Press & Media
Dr. Jessica Pullan’s research uses chemistry and molecular biology to better understand complex diseases and identify more targeted approaches to treatment. Her work includes studying hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe pregnancy condition, by investigating how genetic variation in GDF15 may contribute to extreme nausea and vomiting. She also studies glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, with a focus on how molecules such as SPARCL1 behave differently across regions of a tumor. In addition, her lab examines extracellular vesicles, tiny cell-released particles that may have future uses in diagnostics, drug delivery, and disease monitoring. Across these areas, her research connects laboratory science with real-world medical problems.
For media inquiries, please email.
Get In Touch
Contact & Location
Please email for appointments outside of office hours.
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