Shima Shahrad is a promising researcher specializing in biomaterials, nanomedicine and targeted drug delivery systems. Her academic journey began with a focus on synthesizing spherical mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) using the sol-gel method, exploring their potential in drug delivery. 

This foundational work sparked her interest in nanotechnology applications for cancer treatment. During her master's research at Noshirvani University of Technology, Shahrad developed MUC1 aptamer-functionalized PLA-PEG nanocarriers to target lung cancer cells specifically. This innovative project demonstrated enhanced cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in MUC1-positive lung cancer cells, showcasing her ability to design advanced targeted drug delivery systems. Notably, her work in this area resulted in a publication in a prestigious Nature journal, highlighting the significance of her contributions to the field. 

Currently, Shahrad is a PhD student at the University of Tehran and a visiting PhD student and research scientist at i3S in Porto, Portugal. She is developing her project on miRNA delivery systems for treating skin fibrosis, focusing on therapeutic microRNA approaches to manage fibrotic skin diseases using nanoparticle-based carriers. Her diverse research experiences and commitment to advancing nanomedicine position her as a promising candidate for impactful contributions to experimental molecular and regenerative medicine.