Adam was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, where he was first excited by research as a high school physics intern at Youngstown State University. He then attended the Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) where he double majored in chemistry and neuroscience and conducted research with Dr. Randy Nelson. Now, Adam is blending his interests in chemistry and immunology as a PhD student in chemistry co-advised by Aaron Esser-Kahn and Stuart Rowan. His current work focuses on the use of modular polymer design to study the biophysical basis of lysosomal rupture in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This research will lead to the design of new vaccine adjuvants with controlled T-cell response profiles. Adam is a current Chemistry-Biology Interface training grant awardee.
Adam's research includes the use of cellulose nanocrystals for the development of novel vaccine delivery vehicles.
Development of Masitinib Derivatives with Enhanced Mpro Ligand Efficiency and Reduced Cytotoxicity
Cintia A Menendez, Adil Mohamed, Gustavo R Perez-Lemus, Adam M Weiss, Benjamin W Rawe, Guancen Liu, Alex E Crolais, Emma Kenna, Fabian Byléhn, Walter Alvarado, Dan Mendels, Stuart J Rowan, Savaş Tay, Juan J de Pablo Molecules 2023, 28(18), 6643
Understanding How Cationic Polymers’ Properties Inform Toxic or Immunogenic Responses via Parametric Analysis
Adam M. Weiss, Marcos A. Lopez II, Benjamin W. Rawe, Saikat Manna, Qing Chen, Elizabeth J. Mulder, Stuart J. Rowan*, and Aaron P. Esser-Kahn* Macromolecules 2023, 56, 18, 7286–7299
Immunostimulatory Polymers as Adjuvants, Immunotherapies, and Delivery Systems
Adam M. Weiss, Samir Hossainy, Stuart J. Rowan, Jeffrey A. Hubbell, and Aaron P. Esser-Kahn, Macromolecules (2022), 55, 16, 6913–6937
Site-specific antigen-adjuvant conjugation using cell-free protein synthesis enhances antigen presentation and CD8+ T-cell response
Weiss, A. M., Ajit, J., Albin, T. J., Kapoor, N., Maroju, S., Berges, A., … Esser-Kahn, A. P. Scientific Reports, 11(6267).
In Vitro and In Vivo Analyses of the Effects of Source, Length, and Charge on the Cytotoxicity and Immunocompatibility of Cellulose Nanocrystals
Weiss, A et al. ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng. 2021. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01618