We revolutionize the way diseases are analyzed, detected, and managed
High-throughput technologies for immune cell profiling and engineering
Our lab develops novel technologies to better understand and engineer immune cells, with the goal of advancing CAR-T therapies, cell-mediated vaccines, and other immune-based interventions. Recent breakthroughs such as single-cell RNA sequencing, powered by microfluidic droplet technologies, have demonstrated the power of high-throughput profiling at the genomic level. However, the next frontier lies in measuring function rather than sequence alone. We design and build cutting-edge Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), microfluidic droplet platforms, and high-content/novel imaging methods. These technologies enable us to collect large-scale sequence–function datasets from immune cells, providing an unprecedented view into cellular diversity. Such comprehensive datasets are invaluable for AI-driven approaches to immune engineering, accelerating the development of more effective and personalized immunotherapies.
​Engineering CRISPR proteins for advanced RNA diagnostics and therapeutics
Conventional CRISPR-Cas systems are best known for targeting DNA, but newer systems such as CRISPR-Cas13 expand this capability to RNA, unlocking powerful opportunities to both detect and control RNA. Our lab focuses on engineering Cas13 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) to create next-generation molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases and cancer, as well as innovative RNA-based therapeutics. We integrate AI-driven protein design, molecular dynamics simulations, and high-throughput experimental screening—both in vitro with purified proteins and in vivo in cells—to engineer novel functionalities into CRISPR-Cas13. In the near term, our work offers molecular diagnostic technologies that overcome the limitations of slow, complex PCR-based methods. In the long term, we aim to harness the theranostic potential of Cas13—combining real-time detection with targeted intervention—to deliver RNA therapeutics that surpass the performance and versatility of conventional siRNA approaches.
Related publications:
Programmable tuning of Cas13 activity, Mobilephone COVID detection