Ismail Hafez

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc.

BIOGRAPHY

Ismail Hafez is a senior scientist at Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., specialising in lipid nanoparticle design and the biophysical behaviour of cationic and ionisable lipids. With over three decades of research experience, he leads preclinical programmes focused on gene-editing delivery systems.

Ismail’s pioneering work has advanced understanding of how cationic lipids drive endosomal membrane disruption and cellular release. His research also defined the critical role of ionisable lipid pKa in lipid nanoparticle performance, shaping innovations in nucleic acid delivery for hepatic and extrahepatic applications.