Overview
Our work focuses on the following research areas:
1) Host-aware cell engineering. We work in bacteria and mammalian cells to understand how genetic constructs interact with host cells so as to better understand resource competition and burden. We use our findings to design mitigation strategies to ease burden and improved cell and construct performance.
2) AI-guided vector design. We collaborate with other universities and industrial partners to develop novel plasmid vectors with improved performance. We do this by library screening, cell line development and AI-based prediction.
3) Engineered synthetic cells. Working with Yuval Elani in our Department, we aim at engineering synthetic cells with genetic devices for the sensing of external stimuli and triggered responses toward therapeutic applications.
4) Control of gene expression in mammalian cells. Through the design of novel approaches and genetic tools we aim at regulating gene expression and cellular behaviour in mammalian cells. We do this by transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational control.
5) Control of gene expression in bacterial cells. By designing bacterial controllers and regulators, we aim at a context-aware regulation of bacterial gene expression for the programmable control of expression in response to a plethora of external stimuli. This is to be applied to therapy, agriculture and bioprocessing.