The University of Utah Department of Chemistry hosted Professor Hanadi Sleiman of McGill University on March 19, 2026, as the 2026 Stang‑- Burrows‑- Sessler Lecturer. Sleiman, an internationally recognized leader in nucleic acid nanotechnology, brought her pioneering research to campus as part of the department’s most distinguished annual event.
Her visit continues a tradition of celebrating bold, field‑shaping science while honoring the legacy of three extraordinary chemists whose names define the lectureship.
Professor Hanadi Sleiman, McGill University, Specialist in DNA Nanostructures and Precision Biomaterials
Professor Hanadi Sleiman is renowned for transforming DNA into a programmable building material for nanostructures, therapeutics, and advanced biomaterials. Her laboratory has developed elegant, highly controlled architectures that push the boundaries of what nucleic acids can do beyond genetics. Her work exemplifies the spirit of the Stang-Burrows-Sessler Lectureship: creative, interdisciplinary, and deeply influential across chemistry, biology, and materials science. Sleiman’s lecture offered students, faculty, and community members a rare opportunity to engage with one of the most innovative thinkers in contemporary chemical research.
Title: DNA Nanostructures as Precision Therapies.
Abstract: DNA is the fundamental building block of life, the blueprint that defines who we are. But the very properties that make DNA such a reliable molecule for information storage also make it a remarkable building material.
Our research group takes DNA out of its biological context and uses this molecule to build nanostructures, for applications in biology and materials science. By combining DNA with synthetic molecules and polymers, we create 3D-DNA host structures, such as cages, nanotubes, nanoparticles and fibers that are promising for targeted drug delivery. These nanomaterials can be precisely controlled in size, shape, and presentation of molecules on their surface; They selectively respond to environmental cues, ‘unzipping’ on contact with cancer-specific molecules and releasing drug cargo.
We find that they resist nuclease degradation and silence gene expression to a significantly greater extent than their component strands. They achieve strong therapeutic outcomes in vivo, in multiple organs and disease sites, unlike other nucleic acid treatments that only target the liver. We will describe the applications of these DNA structures as drug delivery vehicles to cancer cells. We will also discuss the ability of small molecules to reprogram the assembly of DNA, away from Watson-Crick-Franklin base-pairing and into new motifs for drug delivery and tissue regeneration.
Biography: Hanadi Sleiman is a Professor of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair in DNA Nanoscience at McGill University. She received her Ph.D. from Stanford University, and was a CNRS postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn’s laboratory at the Université Louis Pasteur. She joined the faculty at McGill University in 1999, and her research group focuses on using the molecule DNA as a template to assemble nanostructured materials.
Sleiman is Fellow of the Royal Society (London) and of the Royal Society of Canada, and was Associate Editor of J. Am. Chem. Soc. (2017-25). Among her research recognitions are the Canadian Society for Chemistry E. W. R. Steacie Award (2024), NSERC Polanyi Award (2021), Izatt-Christensen Award in Supramolecular Chemistry (2016) and Killam Research Fellowship (2018).
Sleiman also received the Society of Chemical Industry Kalev Pugi award (2024), Cottrell STAR Award (2021), Albus Award (Grifols, 2018), Canadian Society of Chemistry R. U. Lemieux Award in Organic Chemistry (2018), Netherlands Scholar Award in Supramolecular Chemistry (2018), Canadian Society for Chemistry Strem Award (2009), NSERC Discovery Accelerator (2008), McGill Dawson Award (2004-13), Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (2004-12) and Cottrell Scholar (Research Corp., 2002). She received named lectureships including Ayer (U. Alberta), Hirschmann (U. Wisconsin-Madison), BP Sustainability (U. Cambridge), Bristol-Myers-Squibb (Columbia U. and MIT), Swiss Chemical Society (U. Genève, EPFL, U. Neuchâtel, U. Fribourg, U. Basel) and E. Gordon Young (Chemical Institute of Canada).
Sleiman is Editorial Advisory Board member of J. Org. Chem., ChemBioChem, and Trends in Chem. She received the McGill Principal’s Prize (2002) and the Leo Yaffe Award (2005) for Excellence in Teaching.
About the Stang‑Burrows‑Sessler Lectureship
The Stang‑Burrows‑Sessler Lectureship was established by Professor Jonathan L. Sessler, Roland J. Pettit Centennial Chair in Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, to honor two of his closest colleagues and long‑time friends: Distinguished Professor Peter J. Stang and Distinguished Professor Cynthia J. Burrows. Distinguished Professor Cynthia J. Burrows is a trailblazer in nucleic acid chemistry. Burrows’ research on DNA damage, repair, and oxidative lesions has revolutionized our understanding of mutagenesis and disease. She is also renowned for her mentorship, leadership, and contributions to scientific education. Distinguished Professor Peter J. Stang, a global leader in supramolecular chemistry and molecular self-assembly, has influenced entire fields and received some of the highest honors in chemistry, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the Priestley Medal.
A Legacy of Visionary Speakers
Since its founding, the Stang‑Burrows‑Sessler Lectureship has brought some of the world’s most influential chemists to campus. Recent speakers include:
- Jack Szostak (University of Chicago) — RNA copying without enzymes (2024)
- Yamuna Krishnan (University of Chicago) — Intracellular electrophysiology (2024)
- Ben L. Feringa (Nobel Laureate, University of Groningen) — The art of building small (2022)
- Thomas Carell (University of Munich) — DNA bases beyond Watson and Crick (2018)
- Makoto Fujita (University of Tokyo) — Coordination self‑assembly (2018)
- Josef Michl (UCB) — Arrays of molecular rotors (2016)
- Jonathan Sessler (UT Austin) — Expanded porphyrins: A personal journey (2016)
These lectures highlight the program’s commitment to showcasing transformative research—particularly in unconventional or emerging areas of organic chemistry.
With the arrival of Professor Hanadi Sleiman in March 2026, the Stang-Burrows-Sessler Lectureship continues its tradition of highlighting scientists whose work pushes the boundaries of chemical research. Her visit inspired students, fostered new collaborations, and celebrated the lasting legacy of Stang, Burrows, and Sessler.
