Oskar Gustafsson

I am an engineer at heart, with a strong background in biotechnology. I graduated with a Master of Science in Engineering in Biotechnology from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in 2017, and I completed my PhD at Karolinska Institutet in 2025. My doctoral research focused on intracellular delivery of gene editing proteins, including Cas9, base editors, and prime editors, with a particular emphasis on overcoming the endosomal barrier. In parallel, I worked on endosomal escape of oligonucleotides and mRNA, and explored aspects of extracellular vesicle–mediated transport.

I believe the future of medicine will rely on large protein-based therapeutics capable of acting inside cells. Gene editors, in particular, hold tremendous potential as one-time treatments for a wide range of diseases. Currently, I am developing protein-based delivery systems for gene editors, combining pore-forming mechanisms with rational protein engineering to enable efficient cytosolic delivery. Through this work, I am gaining extensive expertise in protein design, engineering, and translational delivery technologies, with the goal of making intracellular therapeutics safe, effective, and broadly applicable.