The Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD) congratulates Leanne C. Duke, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research associate in the IPRD Viral Vector and Genome Editing Core, on her recent research being recognized as one of the most impactful articles of 2025 by the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Duke is the first author of the study, co-authored with Li Sun, Ph.D., and Robert J. Tomko Jr., Ph.D., which advances understanding of how cells regulate the molecular messages they send to one another through small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). These vesicles play essential roles in normal physiology as well as in disease processes.

The research focuses on two key proteins, CD9 and CD63, that influence how molecular cargo is packaged into sEVs prior to their release from cells. The study demonstrates that CD9 acts as a regulatory factor, limiting the incorporation of CD63 into vesicles by modulating endocytosis, a fundamental cellular process involved in internal transport and sorting.
Using advanced microscopy approaches, the investigators were able to visualize how CD9 shapes vesicle composition, providing direct evidence that cells actively fine-tune the content of the signals they transmit. These findings deepen insight into fundamental mechanisms of cellular communication and may inform future therapeutic strategies for diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

Duke is currently a postdoctoral research associate at IPRD, where she works under the direction of Boris Kantor in the Viral Vector and Genome Editing Core. “Duke’s recognition by the Journal of Biological Chemistry is a testament to her scientific rigor and creativity, and we are proud to have her as part of the IPRD community,” said Pradeep G. Bhide, Ph.D., IPRD Director.