Roman Sukhovershin, MD PhD

Dr. Roman Sukhovershin received his MD with Honors from Altai State Medical University in Barnaul, Russia, where he also completed his residency in Internal Medicine. He received his PhD in Physiology and Biochemistry from the Research Institute of Physiology in Novosibirsk, Russia. His PhD studies were focused on the regulation of nitric oxide biosynthesis and, especially, on the metabolism of endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitors (methylarginines) in the setting of acute renal injury. Dr. Sukhovershin then received his postdoctoral training in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at Houston Methodist under tutelage of Dr. John Cooke. His work helped to delineate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the harmful effects of proton pump inhibitors on vascular endothelium. Besides, in collaboration with Dr. Ennio Tasciotti (Center for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston Methodist) and Dr. Barry Trachtenberg (Houston Methodist DeBakey Cardiology Associates), Dr. Sukhovershin provided proof-of-concept for using biomimetic nanoparticles leukosomes for targeted delivery of drugs into atherosclerotic plaques.

In 2016 Dr. Sukhovershin joined RNAcore, where he contributed to development, improvement and upscaling processes for RNA manufacturing. He proposed HPLC-based high-throughput screening approach that allowed optimization of proprietary chemistry for RNA synthesis so that both yield and quality of RNA is higher than that of commercial kits. Besides, many internal and external RNAcore customers already benefited from mRNA purified by HPLC-based method implemented by Dr. Sukhovershin. Currently, Dr. Sukhovershin leads RNAcore team and, together with Dr. John Cooke, is committed to develop hospital-based RNA therapeutics program which would make Houston Methodist a destination hospital for RNA therapies. Under Dr. Sukhovershin’s leadership, RNAcore team establishes cGMP-compliant manufacturing platform that would allow manufacturing clinical-grade RNA with the scale to support first-in-man trials, and flexibility to enable personalized RNA therapies.

Dr. Sukhovershin has published in high-impact journals, such as Circulation Research, Journal of American College of Cardiology, and Theranostics. He is a recipient of several scientific awards, actively involved in professional societies, including the American Heart Association, and served as a co-chair of the Houston Methodist Postdoctoral Association.

As a foreign-trained physician-scientist, Dr. Sukhovershin is passionate about translational and collaborative work that would bring RNA-based therapies into the clinic. He is particularly interested in the following:

• New targets for RNA therapeutics (especially, for cardiovascular applications and regeneration)
• RNA products optimization to enhance stability, translatability and reduce toxicity
• Targeted tissue-specific RNA delivery
• Novel therapies for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease