Research Specialist Khairat El-Baradie, PhD, explored many areas of biology before finding the research she now loves. “I earned my PhD from GT and then completed postdoctoral training in several research settings, where I was exposed to many different aspects of biology, before discovering a particular passion for extracellular vesicle research,” Dr. El-Baradie says.
She was fascinated by extracellular vesicles, tiny particles released naturally by cells and found in many types of body fluids. These particles act as messengers between cells and can provide important insight into disease processes. They are also increasingly being studied for their therapeutic potential. Dr. El-Baradie was initially working with these particles for their potential to treat liver disease. When she learned of an opportunity at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, she recognized it as a natural fit for her scientific background and research interests.
Dr. El-Baradie now works half of the time in CHLA’s Extracellular Vesicle and Nanoparticle Analytics (EV-NP) Core and spends the other half in the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute. In the EV-NP Core, her work involves isolating, purifying, and characterizing extracellular vesicles from different biological samples. “These particles act as messengers between cells, helping us identify disease biomarkers and support the development of new therapeutic strategies, and my work supports investigators at CHLA and collaborating institutions across the United States in advancing studies where extracellular vesicles serve as important biomarkers for several diseases and as promising tools for future therapies,” Dr. El-Baradie says.
Within the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Dr. El-Baradie collaborates with multidisciplinary teams developing next-generation CAR T-cell therapies designed to more safely treat pediatric cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and neuroblastoma. Her role supports efforts to address key barriers in the tumor microenvironment that can limit CAR T-cell effectiveness. By contributing to the development and evaluation of innovative logic-gated CAR designs, Dr. El-Baradie helps advance strategies aimed at improving T-cell activation and enhancing tumor targeting in these challenging pediatric malignancies.
Dr. El-Baradie feels grateful to be part of the collaborative research environment at CHLA and to contribute to projects that have real translational potential. “I’ve always loved research, but I especially appreciate being in an environment where people work together and where you can see science moving toward helping patients,” she says.
Beyond her work, Dr. El-Baradie enjoys spending time with her family, visiting the beach, cooking, playing cards, and reading.
