BACLIF Meeting 2019

Title: Mapping the Inner World of Living Cells

Research Interest: Bo Huang is interested in developing fluorescence microscopy techniques to investigate the subcellular organization and temporal dynamics of biomolecules in cells. He has developed a CRISPR imaging technique for visualizing the dynamics of chromosomal organization. He also uses super-resolution microscopy to map proteins in key cellular structures. His lab is now innovating in the areas of fluorescent probes and live microscopy techniques for the discovery and characterization of subcellular compartments and cell signaling networks, particularly those involved in cancer proliferation.

Wenjun Zhang, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Charles R. Wilke Endowed Chair, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department

Title: Unveiling Bioactive Small-molecule Secondary Metabolites in Pathogenic Bacteria

Research Interest: The research in Zhang’s group at UC Berkeley lies at the interface of chemistry, biology and engineering, with special interest in discovery, biosynthesis and biology of natural products. Current research themes include identifying new bioactive natural products from complex mixtures, understanding the intriguing enzymology underlying natural product biosynthesis, producing “unnatural” natural products with improved pharmaceutical properties, probing the biological functions of natural products in their native environment or drug screening settings, and developing new research toolkits to promote the above-mentioned research.

Guosong Hong. Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University

Title: Nano-enabled Neurotechnologies for Brain Research

Research Interest: Hong’s lab aims to develop minimally invasive neural interrogation and manipulation technologies by merging the distinction between the living and non-living worlds. Three ongoing research directions include:

1. A near-infrared light-based in-vivo brain imaging technique (‘NIR-II fluorescence imaging’) through intact scalp and skull;

2. A new form of nanoelectronics (‘mesh electronics’) that resembles the neural tissue and can be delivered in the brain and the eye by syringe injection like pharmaceuticals for chronic recording of single-unit activity;

3. A minimally invasive neuromodulation interface (sono-optogenetics) employing brain-penetrating ultrasound to produce localized light sources anytime and anywhere in the brain for neuron-type specific optogenetic stimulation through intact scalp and skull.