The Humans of the Wyss (HOW) series features members of the Wyss community discussing their work, the influences that shape them as professionals, and their collaborations at the Wyss Institute and beyond.
Eliz Amar Lewis has always been fascinated by biology. But when she saw her grandmother bravely battle breast cancer, she was inspired to use her passion to develop a smart and sophisticated therapeutic platform to fight such a complex disease. Now, she’s part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team developing an RNA-based cancer immunotherapy platform funded by ARPA-H. Learn more about Eliz and her work in this month’s Humans of the Wyss.
What are you working on?
In the Artzi lab, we are focused on designing materials to deliver drugs in a targeted manner to specific tissues and cells, optimizing their therapeutic effects. These materials enhance drug stability, increase drug loading, and thereby improve potency and expand the therapeutic window. We are exploring various materials, such as polymers and lipids, each offering distinct properties. The nanostructures we synthesize have controlled physical and chemical characteristics that result in different tissue tropisms, or abilities to impact certain tissues, enabling us to study the drug’s mechanism of action in depth.
I am working on an RNA-based cancer immunotherapy platform, developed through a collaborative effort between the labs of Professors Natalie Artzi, William Shih, and Don Ingber, funded by a recent ARPA-H grant. Our lab’s expertise in developing and characterizing novel nanoparticle delivery technologies is now being leveraged to explore the mechanisms by which a proprietary immune-activating drug, discovered in Professor Ingber’s lab, drives both anti-tumor efficacy and anti-viral immunity.
Our studies have reinforced a critical yet often overlooked principle: a therapeutic effect can only be achieved when the drug’s mechanism of action is well understood, and it is effectively delivered to the right place at the right time.
What real-world problem does this solve?
This technology is designed to activate the innate immune system to combat cancer and infectious diseases. By leveraging the immune system’s conserved mechanisms for recognizing foreign DNA and RNA, we aim to generate a robust, long-lasting, and multifaceted immune response that not only eliminates these diseases, but also prevents their recurrence.
What inspired you to get into this field?
When I studied biology in middle school, I was fascinated by how intricate biological mechanisms seemed to occur spontaneously. I would often joke, “Who’s the brilliant engineer that designed all this?”
I realized that addressing such a complex disease requires an even broader set of tools.
Later in life, my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She fought bravely and, thankfully, went into remission. Her strength deeply inspired me, but it also made me realize that to truly combat this disease, we need to develop smart and sophisticated therapeutic platforms. This motivated me to study chemical engineering with a major in biotechnology, as I wanted to gain a multidisciplinary perspective on science that combined material science, biology, and engineering. I was particularly drawn to this field because of the immense potential to translate these efforts into real-world therapeutics.
I completed my master’s and Ph.D. at Ben Gurion University in Professor Joseph Kost’s lab, where I was inspired by his leadership—he led with kindness while maintaining a commitment to high-quality science. During my research on gene therapy for cancer, I realized that addressing such a complex disease requires an even broader set of tools. This realization led me to approach Professor Natalie Artzi to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in cancer immunotherapy.
What continues to motivate you?
I am driven by the belief that leveraging material science to effectively deliver and activate innate immune mechanisms will lead to the translation of even more cancer therapeutics than we currently have. I genuinely love my work. Every day, I wake up excited, knowing that I’ll learn and discover something new—something that not only expands our knowledge but also has the potential to save lives.
I genuinely love my work. Every day, I wake up excited, knowing that I’ll learn and discover something new—something that not only expands our knowledge but also has the potential to save lives.
My motivation also comes from my three children. I want to inspire them to push their limits, challenge their minds, and contribute positively to the world. I am fortunate to have an incredible role model in Natalie Artzi, whose passion and drive teach me daily to push my boundaries and pursue the seemingly impossible. I am also deeply grateful for the support of my family, particularly my husband, who put his career on hold for a few years so that I could work alongside some of the best scientists in the world, right in the heart of biotechnology. Thanks to their support, I am living the dreams that began back in middle school.
What are some of the challenges that you face?
I thrive on challenges, especially those that keep me constantly learning and adapting. Conducting multidisciplinary research is inherently challenging because it requires expertise across multiple fields—chemistry, biology, and engineering in my case. For instance, we can dream up and imagine designing a new polymer or lipid, but turning that idea into reality demands a deep understanding of the biological applications in order to transform it into a successful technology. Science often involves facing failures, but part of the process is embracing those setbacks and knowing how to turn them into opportunities.
Another major challenge is designing materials that function effectively in complex biological environments. We must consider multiple factors, including the material’s stability in the biological setting, its fate after administration and delivery, its biocompatibility to avoid adverse effects, and even its shelf life. Ultimately, we are developing a technology that we believe will reach the clinic and advance the fields of drug delivery and immunotherapy.
Why did you want to work at the Wyss?
Translation, translation, translation! I wanted to do work that could have a positive impact, and working with Core Faculty member Professor Artzi at the Wyss provided the perfect opportunity. I love the quote, “Discoveries can’t change the world if they don’t leave the lab,” and that’s exactly what I aim to achieve in my academic journey—translating scientific discoveries into tangible solutions.
What is unique about the Wyss and how has that impacted your work?
The Wyss is unique not only because of its collaborative environment, but also because of its focus on translating discoveries into real-world technologies by providing the infrastructure for experts from diverse fields to come together to address grand challenges. While scientific collaboration exists in other academic institutions, the Wyss goes beyond that. Here, researchers work alongside a business development team that identifies market opportunities, an Advanced Technology Team with rich industry experience, and core technical teams that help execute experiments. Having all these resources under one roof accelerates the translation process and makes it much more effective.
The Wyss is unique not only because of its collaborative environment, but also because of its focus on translating discoveries into real-world technologies by providing the infrastructure for experts from diverse fields to come together to address grand challenges.
This focus on translation significantly impacts my work. When designing materials, it’s tempting to create exotic structures and push the limits of imagination, but we always keep in mind that these materials must be practical, safe, and biocompatible to ensure they can be translated into real-world therapeutics.
How do you collaborate with and receive support from teams across the Wyss Institute?
The Wyss fosters collaboration through shared spaces where scientists and engineers from diverse fields can easily connect. We also benefit from internal funding that allows us to pursue new ideas and generate preliminary data to secure external support. The Advanced Technology Team, familiar with each lab’s expertise and technologies, plays a crucial role in guiding us through the development process. Their assistance extends beyond science, considering market potential, legal aspects, manufacturing, regulatory considerations, and more—which is incredibly valuable.
We collaborate with researchers from the labs of Professor Don Ingber and Professor William Shih in a joint effort to develop this platform technology, with each lab bringing its own unique expertise. Additionally, the Wyss has core technical teams, such as the Veterinary Team and the Tissue Culture Team, whose support is essential for initiating new experiments. Having all these resources within reach is truly amazing!
How have your previous work and personal experiences shaped your approach to your work today?
I am grateful to have completed my Ph.D. in a lab that consistently prioritized translation. This experience educated me on the patenting process and the importance of collaborating with industry to implement technologies. I learned not only how to conduct fundamental science but also how to envision it as a practical technology. This background has deepened my appreciation for the synergistic structure at the Wyss.
Between my Ph.D. and postdoctoral fellowship, I worked at a startup, where I gained valuable insights into drug delivery technologies and entrepreneurship. Additionally, my Ph.D. advisor completed his postdoctoral fellowship in Boston. I first visited the city in 2017 for a conference, where he showed me the city through his eyes, and I instantly fell in love with it. That experience fueled my desire to return, which I did in 2022.
What do you like to do outside of work?
When I arrive home, I cherish spending quality time with my kids and husband. Balancing my academic pursuits with family life is important to me, and I strive to educate and inspire my children to pursue their passions.
What is something fun about you that someone wouldn’t know from your resume?
I love nature, hiking, and camping. However, what many people might not know about me is that I enjoy extreme activities like skydiving, scuba diving, and cliff climbing. People may not expect this from someone with a calm demeanor, but I thrive on challenging myself with adventurous experiences and overcoming my fear of the unknown.
If you had to choose an entirely different career path, what would it be?
I would definitely pursue something creative, like opening a bakery where I could create beautifully decorated, fancy cakes. My children have often challenged me to make special cakes for their birthdays, and I find it incredibly satisfying to rise to that occasion.
What does it feel like to be working on cutting-edge technology that has the potential to have a real and significant impact on people’s lives and society?
From a personal perspective, it feels like I’m truly living my dream. Having access to new knowledge and the ability to apply it in ways that can significantly impact people’s lives is incredibly fulfilling. It’s a rare opportunity, and I believe it would be irresponsible not to use my skills to make the world a better place and encourage others to do the same.