Utilizing synthetic biology to advance therapeutics. 

Synthetic biology has transformed how cells can be reprogrammed, providing a means to reliably and predictably control cell behavior with the assembly of genetic parts into more complex synthetic gene circuits. Using these approaches, we are programming bacteria and stem cells with novel genetic tools to control genes and pathways that result in changes in their native function for desired outcomes. Our work in bacteria includes moving eukaryotic genetic parts to prokaryotes to mass-produce therapeutic proteins beyond industry standards. In stem cells, we are building genetic tools to define the molecular rules governing hematopoietic cell fate transitions and the dynamic processes that guide stem cell differentiation. We have also shown that megakaryocytes, the progenitor cells for platelets, can be reprogrammed and loaded with non-native proteins to produce engineered platelets that can function as local and systemic delivery devices.