Physical chemistry of living systems
What is the underlaying physico-chemical driving forces of biological functions? We study the physical chemistry of macroscopic cellular structures to explore and understand cellular functions. We are currently focusing on establishing the fundamental chemical features of biomolecular condensates to understand how these features can dictate biological functions.
Design of synthetic biological parts
How to enable orthogonal control on endogenous cellular processes? We develop methods and strategies to engineer synthetic biological parts to modulate cellular functions. We are currently focusing on targeting virus-dependent cellular pathways to manipulate cellular states for the developments of new approaches to tailoring disease treatment and prevention.
Electrochemical controls of biology
Interfacing physicochemical technique with biology is the foundational concept for modern biotechnology, as exemplified by optogenetics. Instead of light, we develop methods to utilize electrochemistry to probe and control biological processes for applications in biosensing, smart medicine and drug delivery.