About SynGlyco Research Lab

The SynGlyco Lab advances synthetic biology and glycoscience to address fundamental questions in molecular recognition and develop innovative biotechnology solutions. We integrate cell-free systems, glycoengineering, and computational approaches to push the boundaries of what's possible in biological design. Our work bridges basic research with translational applications, training the next generation of scientists to think creatively across disciplinary boundaries and tackle complex challenges in health, agriculture, and biotechnology.

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Our lab harnesses cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems to engineer biological solutions outside the constraints of living cells. By reconstructing cellular machinery in vitro, we can rapidly prototype and optimize biosynthetic pathways, create diagnostic biosensors, and produce complex proteins with enhanced control over reaction conditions. This approach offers unprecedented flexibility for fundamental research and practical applications, from developing CRISPR-based detection platforms to accelerating the design-build-test cycle in synthetic biology. Cell-free systems serve as a versatile chassis for integrating synthetic biology tools with real-world biotechnology challenges.

Carbohydrates are essential yet underexplored biomolecules that mediate critical processes from immune recognition to pathogen defense. Our glycobiotechnology research focuses on engineering and characterizing glycoproteins, particularly mucins and other O-glycosylated proteins relevant to aquaculture and human health. We combine synthetic glycobiology approaches with advanced analytical methods to understand structure-function relationships of glycans, develop glycoengineered proteins with improved properties, and create glycan-based diagnostics. By bridging fundamental glycoscience with biotechnological applications, we aim to unlock the potential of carbohydrate engineering for next-generation therapeutics and biosensors.