Personal Profile

Congcong Xu, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, International College of Pharmaceutical Innovation, Soochow University

Education Background

Bachelor of Chemistry, Hunan University (2015)
Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy (2020), supervised by Prof. Peixuan Guo (Member of the National Academy of Inventors, USA)

Professional Experience

2020–2023: Head of mRNA Platform R&D at a leading mRNA biotech company, advancing three mRNA drugs and vaccines to obtain clinical IND approvals, and one mRNA vaccine to receive emergency use authorization.

Research Funding

Principal Investigator of the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan Project
Principal Investigator of the High-Level Talent Research Project at Soochow University
Participating Researcher in a National Key R&D Program Project

Academic Achievements

First/co-corresponding author of multiple papers in international journals including Nature, Science Advances, Nano Today, and Nano Research.
Holder of 5 authorized international patents, with 4 domestic invention patent applications submitted in the field of RNA therapeutics.

Personal statement

I, Congcong Xu, graduated from Hunan University (Changsha, China) with Bachelor degree in science majoring in Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Weihong Tan. The undergraduate research project involving nucleic acid nanotechnology took me to the field of non-viral drug delivery, especially nucleic acid-based nanocarriers. Then I joined Prof. Peixuan Guo’s laboratory at The Ohio State University to pursue my PhD degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Columbus, USA). My PhD research was mainly focusing on developing novel RNA nanoparticle-based delivery systems for controlled drug release and in vivo cancer targeting. By rationally designing RNA sequences, multiple RNA molecules could self-assemble into a uniform nanostructure with well-defined size and architecture. By conjugating therapeutic drugs or RNA such as siRNA or anti-miRNA, the RNA nanoparticles could be engineered for versatile applications. During the PhD training, I obtained in-depth understanding of RNA molecule in terms of structure and chemical properties, as well as non-viral nanodelivery systems.
At the time of PhD graduation (2020/05), the COVID-19 pandemic was causing a public health crisis globally. I recognized the promises of mRNA technology in developing efficacious vaccines against SARS-Cov-2 and I joined a biotech company StemiRNA Therapeutics as senior scientist, mainly working on exploring novel mRNA platforms for vaccine and therapeutic development. The burgeoning field of mRNA vaccine in industry attracted unprecedented investment and attraction. I was in charge of mRNA platform research and development department and led a team with 10 scientists. By collaboration with Baidu Research Institute on artificial intelligence algorithm, we aimed to use AI technology for rapid design of mRNA sequences with high stability and translation efficiency. It took us more than two years to adjust the algorithm for rational mRNA sequence readout as the in vivo performance of mRNA molecules are actually impacted by many factors; and we successfully found the “sweet spot” for mRNA sequence when balancing its stability with translation efficiency. This work was finally accepted by Nature and published as accelerated article preview.
Then I further extended the algorithm to circular RNA by inventing circDesign in collaboration with researcher from China Pharmaceutical University. The circular RNA has a different structure and translation mechanism. This was benefited from my PhD training in understanding the structure of RNA structures. Recently, I relocated to Soochow University as an Associate Professor at the International College of Pharmaceutical Innovation. My current research focus is on the AI-based design of mRNA therapeutics for tailored in vivo performance. The mRNA technology made itself as a platform for vaccine or therapeutic purpose; I believe the mRNA molecules, as the key drug substance, would need to be rationally designed for versatile applications.
Therefore, I have accumulated about 10 years of research experience in the field of nucleic acid, drug delivery and RNA therapeutics. With three years of industry experience, I formed a different viewpoint when conducting research activity as I always think about the significance in terms of pharmaceutical development.

Education

Time	Degree	Colleges	Mentor
01/2016 - 2020/07	Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences	Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University	Dr. Peixuan Guo
08/2015 - 12/2015	Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences	Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky	Dr. Peixuan Guo
09/2011 - 06/2015	B.S. in Chemistry	School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University	Dr. Weihong Tan & Dr. Xiaohai Yang

Employment and Affiliations

Time	Position	Institution
11/2023 - present	Assoc. Prof.	International College of Pharmaceutical Innovation, Soochow Univ.
11/2023 - present	Member	Soochow University Biomedical Polymers Laboratory
01/2022 - present	Member	Center for Shanghai International mRNA Innovation, Shanghai
12/2020 - 10/2023	Member	Center for mRNA Emergency Vaccine Innovation Technology, Shanghai
04/2021 - 10/2023	Principle Investigator, Head of mRNA Platform	StemiRNA Therapeutics, Shanghai
08/2020 - 03/2021	Principle Scientist	StemiRNA Therapeutics, Shanghai
10/2017 - 07/2020	Member	International Society of RNA Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine
01/2016 - 07/2020	Research Assistant	College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University
01/2016 - 07/2020	Member	Center for RNA Nanobiotech. & Nanomed., The Ohio State University
08/2015 - 12/2015	Research Assistant	College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky

Awards

Time	Honor	Company
02/2023	Star of R & D; Great Team Leader	StemiRNA Therapeutics
10/2022	Shanghai Pujiang Talent	Commission of Science & Technology of Shanghai
02/2022	Outstanding Middle-class Management Award	StemiRNA Therapeutics
01/2021	Outstanding New Recruits Award	StemiRNA Therapeutics
10/2019	2nd Place Pre-Doctoral Graduate Student Poster Award	The Ohio State Univ.
11/2018	Betty - ann Hoener Award	The Ohio State University
09/2016	Chang Ahn Foundation Travel Award	The Ohio State University
06/2015	Excellent Undergraduate	Hunan University
10/2014	Sun Hung Kai Properties Scholarship	Hunan University
09/2014	Haozhi Scholarship	Hunan University
07/2014	The First Prize of “SIT” program	Hunan University
09/2013	Hongyuyan Scholarship	Hunan University
10/2013	Sun Hung Kai Properties Scholarship	Hunan University
10/2012	National Encouragement Scholarship	Hunan University
10/2012	Excellent Student Cadre	Hunan University
10/2012	Sun Hung Kai Properties Scholarship	Hunan University
12/2011	Tianjian Scholarship	Hunan University

Representative Papers

Serial Number	Author	Title of the Paper	Periodical	Publication Time	DOI
1	Ye, R., Ren, Q., Chang, L., Zhang, S., Deng, C., Cao, L., Shi, M., Lou, B., Meng, F., Du, S., Ren, K., Piao, X., Xu, C., Zhong, Z.	Administration route-commended concise organ-selective mRNA transfection (ACCOST) by cyclic disulfide-primed short polyethylenimine.	Nano Today	2025 Aug	10.1016/j.nantod.2025.102741
2	Xu, C., Pu, C., Chen, R., Wang, W., Jiang, F., Deng, C., ... & Zhang, L.	circDesign Algorithm for Designing Synthetic Circular RNA.	bioRxiv	2023	10.1101/2023.07.09.548293v3
3	Fan T#, Xu C# (co-first author), Wu J#, Cai Y, Cao W, Shen H, Zhang M, Zhu H, Yang J, Zhu Z, Ma X, Ren J, Huang L, Li Q, Tang Y, Yu B, Chen C, Xu M, Wang Q, Xu Z, Chen F, Liang S, Zhong Z, Jamroze A, Tang DG, Li H, Dong C.	Lipopolyplex-formulated mRNA cancer vaccine elicits strong neoantigen-specific T cell responses and antitumor activity.	Sci Adv.	2024 Oct 11	10.1126/sciadv.adn9961
4	Cui G, Shao Y, Wang J, Xu C, Jinping Zhang, Zhiyuan Zhong*	Polymersome-mediated Cbl-b silencing activates T cells against solid tumors.	Biomater. Sci.	2025	10.1039/D5BM00001G
5	Xu C, Yin H, Yudhistira T, Li Z, Binzel D,Guo P	Conversion of Chemical Drugs into Targeting Ligands on RNA Nanoparticles and Assessing Payload Stoichiometry for Optimal Biodistribution in Cancer Treatment.	RNA NanoMed	2024	10.59566/ISRNN.2024.0101109
6	Zhang, H.#, Zhang, L.#, Lin, A. #, Xu, C. # (co-first author), Li, Z., Liu, K., ... & Huang, L.	Algorithm for optimized mRNA design improves stability and immunogenicity.	Nature	2023	10.1038/s41586-023-06127-z
7	Yi Fang, Jing-Xin Li, Davone Duangdany, Yang Li, Xi-Lin Guo, Chanthala Phamisith, Ming-Yun Shen, Bo Yu, Bin Luo, Yu-Zhu Wang, Si-Jun Liu, Fan-Fan Zhao, Cong-Cong Xu, Xu-Hui Qiu, Rong-Juan Pei, Jie Wang, Haifa Shen, Wu-Xiang Guan, Hang-Wen Li, Mayfong Mayxay	Safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a modified COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, SW-BIC-213, in healthy people aged 18 years and above: interim report of a Phase 3 double-blinded, randomized, parallel controlled clinical trial in Lao PDR (Laos).	EClinicalMedicine	2023 Dec 13	10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102372
8	Carcache PJ, Guo S, Li H, Zhang K, Xu C, Chiu W, Guo P.	Regulation of reversible conformational change, size switching, and immunomodulation of RNA nanocubes.	RNA	2021 Sep 1	10.1261/rna.078718.121.
9	Guo S., Xu C., Yin H., Hill J., Pi F., Guo P.	Tuning the size, shape and structure of RNA nanoparticles for favorable cancer targeting and immunostimulation.	WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology	2019 Aug 27	10.1002/wnan.1582
10	Xu, C., Zhang, K., Yin, H., Li, Z., Krasnoslobodtsev, A., Zheng, Z., Ji, Z., Guo, S., Li, S., Chiu, W. and Guo, P.	3D RNA nanocage for encapsulation and shielding of hydrophobic biomolecules to improve the in vivo biodistribution.	Nano Research	2020	10.1007/s12274-020-2996-1
11	Chen, Y., Li, J., Duangdany, D., Phamisith, C., Yu, B., Lan, S., Jin, L., Lv, D., Li, Y., Luo, B., Han, P., Wu, J., Wang, Y., Xu, C., Shen, M., Zhao, F., Liu, P., Pei, R., Shen, H., Guan, W., Li, H., Mayxay, M.	Safety and Immunogenicity of SW-BIC-213, a Modified COVID-19 Lipo-Polyplex Mrna Vaccine, in Laotian Healthy Adults Aged 18 Years and Above: a Phase 1/2 Trial	Openalex	2023	10.1101/2023.09.11.23295344
12	Ghimire C, Wang H, Li H, Vieweger M, Xu C, Guo P.	RNA nanoparticles as rubber for compelling vessel extravasation to enhance tumor targeting and for fast renal excretion to reduce toxicity.	ACS Nano	2020 Sep 9	10.1021/acsnano.0c04863
13	Li H., Wang S., Ji Z., Xu C., Shlyakhtenko L.S. and Guo P.	Construction of RNA nanotubes.	Nano Research	2019	10.1007/s12274-019-2463-z
14	Zheng Z, Li Z, Xu C, Guo B, Guo P.	Folate-displaying exosome mediated cytosolic delivery of siRNA avoiding endosome trapping.	J Control Release	2019 Aug 22	10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.08.021
15	Yin H, Xiong G, Guo S, Xu C, Xu R, Guo P, Shu D.	Delivery of Anti-miRNA for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Therapy Using RNA Nanoparticles Targeting Stem Cell Marker CD133.	Mol Ther.	2019 Jul 3	10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.04.018
16	Xu Y, Pang L, Wang H, Xu C, Shah H, Guo P, Shu D, Qian SY.	Specific delivery of delta-5-desaturase siRNA via RNA nanoparticles supplemented with dihomo-γ-linolenic acid for colon cancer suppression.	Redox Biol.	2019 Feb	10.1016/j.redox.2018.101085
17	Xu C, Li H, Zhang K, Binzel DW, Yin H, Chiu W, Guo P.	Photo-controlled release of paclitaxel and model drugs from RNA pyramids.	Nano Res.	2019 Jan	10.1007/s12274-018-2174-x
18	Xu C, Haque F, Jasinski DL, Binzel DW, Shu D, Guo P.	Favorable biodistribution, specific targeting and conditional endosomal escape of RNA nanoparticles in cancer therapy.	Cancer Lett.	2018 Feb 1	10.1016/j.canlet.2017.09.043
19	Li W, Yang X, He L, Wang K, Wang Q, Huang J, Liu J, Wu B, Xu C.	Self-Assembled DNA Nanocentipede as Multivalent Drug Carrier for Targeted Delivery.	ACS Appl Mater Interfaces	2016 Oct 5	10.1021/acsami.6b08210

Personal Profile

Congcong Xu, Ph.D.

Education Background

Professional Experience

Research Funding

Academic Achievements

Personal statement

Education

Employment and Affiliations

Awards

Representative Papers

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