Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering | Program for Genetic Drug Engineering

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Co-Founder & Chief Technology Advisor, Stealth-stage Biotech Company

Dr. Lukas Farbiak is a biomedical engineer, translational scientist, and biotech entrepreneur whose work bridges academic innovation with commercial impact in genetic medicine. He serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he plays a central role in the Program for Genetic Drug Engineering, with additional affiliations in the Department of Biochemistry and the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Farbiak’s research focuses on non-viral delivery technologies and the design of novel nucleic acid therapeutics, including mRNA, siRNA, plasmid DNA, and genome editing systems such as CRISPR/Cas and base editors. His work emphasizes extrahepatic delivery via engineered lipid nanoparticles and the development of modular genetic constructs with translational potential.

Dr. Farbiak earned a B.S. in Neuroscience with honors from Baylor University, an M.S. in Medical Science from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from UT Southwestern, where he trained in the lab of Dr. Daniel Siegwart. His doctoral research helped establish the first in vivo demonstration of non-viral, nucleic acid-mediated homology-directed gene correction using lipid nanoparticle–delivered CRISPR machinery. In recognition of his academic excellence and contributions to biomedical engineering, Dr. Farbiak was awarded the Carol and Robert Eberhart Endowed Scholarship in Engineering in the Clinical Sciences in 2019. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship in 2023, continuing his work on novel genetic medicines but with a focus on novel genetic constructs that incorporate precise instructions for post-translational control of therapeutic biofate.

Complementing his academic research, Dr. Farbiak has made significant strides in technology development and commercialization. He is the co-founder and Chief Technology Advisor of a stealth biotech company that successfully closed its Series A funding round in December 2024. Dr. Farbiak is also listed as an inventor on over 20 patent applications, all of which have progressed to Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filings.

In his academic leadership role, Dr. Farbiak co-led a 5-year, multimillion dollar research collaboration with a large pharmaceutical company to support the growth and sustainability of the Program in Genetic Drug Engineering at UT Southwestern. He continues to collaborate with industry, non-profits, and legal firms through scientific consulting engagements, providing guidance on non-viral delivery, genetic medicine development, and intellectual property strategy.

Beyond the lab, Dr. Farbiak is deeply committed to education, mentorship, and service. He co-directs the core course Anatomy and Physiology for Engineers, provides guest lectures on nanomedicine and drug delivery, and maintains structured monthly mentorship with over 20 graduate students in the lab, offering support on both scientific progress and mental health. He has served on multiple committees, including the Graduate School Admissions Committee, joined dissertation committees across departments, and mentors underrepresented students through UT Austin’s STEM Muse Program.

Dr. Farbiak’s publication record reflects his significant contributions to the field. He has co-authored several high-impact papers, including:

• Selective organ targeting (SORT) nanoparticles for tissue-specific mRNA delivery and CRISPR–Cas gene editing, Nature Nanotechnology, 2020.
• Membrane-destabilizing ionizable phospholipids for organ-selective mRNA delivery and CRISPR–Cas gene editing, Nature Materials, 2021.
• All-in-one dendrimer-based lipid nanoparticles enable precise HDR-mediated gene editing in vivo, Advanced Materials, 2021.
• Enhancing CRISPR/Cas gene editing through modulating cellular mechanical properties for cancer therapy, Nature Nanotechnology, 2022.
• Dendrimer-based lipid nanoparticles deliver therapeutic FAH mRNA to normalize liver function and extend survival in a mouse model of hepatorenal tyrosinemia type I, Advanced Materials, 2018.
• Stimulus-specific combinatorial functionality of neuronal c-fos enhancers, Nature Neuroscience, 2016.

Through a combination of research leadership, entrepreneurial innovation, and interdisciplinary mentorship, Dr. Farbiak is advancing the next generation of genetic drugs with the goal of improving health outcomes on a global scale.

Character: Dr. Lukas Farbiak demonstrates unwavering dedication to scientific advancement, mentorship, and ethical innovation in genetic medicine.

Knowledge: He possesses deep expertise in lipid nanoparticle engineering, gene editing technologies, and precision nanomedicine, supported by extensive academic and translational research.

Strategic: As a co-founder and advisor to biotech ventures, he effectively bridges laboratory discoveries with commercial applications to address unmet clinical needs.

Communication: Dr. Farbiak excels in translating complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, evident in his leadership roles, invited lectures, and collaborative research efforts.