Dr. Aqil’s research focuses on innovative nanomedicine approaches for cancer prevention and treatment, particularly through exosome-based drug delivery. His team has developed a platform using bovine milk-derived exosomes functionalized with folic acid to target tumor cells, significantly enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of small molecules compared to free drug formulations. Notably, his work demonstrated that oral exosomal paclitaxel matches the efficacy of the FDA-approved injectable Abraxane while reducing toxicity. In gene therapy, his lab has pioneered exosome-mediated delivery of siRNA and plasmid DNA, effectively targeting oncogenic KRAS mutations in lung cancer and delivering functional p53 to suppress tumor growth.

Dr. Aqil’s translational studies span evaluating plant-derived and standard chemotherapeutic agents, overcoming drug resistance, and advancing tumor-targeted drug delivery. His work is supported by multiple NIH and industry-funded grants, and his patented exosome technology has been licensed to major pharmaceutical companies.

Beyond research, Dr. Aqil has a strong record of mentorship and scientific contributions, with over 95 peer-reviewed publications, multiple U.S. patents, and licensing agreements with major pharmaceutical companies. His work is supported by funding from the NIH, KY Lung Cancer Research Program, and industry collaborations. He serves as Section Editor-in-Chief for Cancers and contributes to numerous editorial boards and grant review panels. His long-term goal is to establish a leading nanomedicine research program at the Brown Cancer Center, advancing targeted therapies and training the next generation of scientists.