CRISPR genome editing has revolutionized biological research and opened new possibilities for treating genetic diseases, yet challenges remain in improving its precision and multiplexing capabilities. In this talk, I will present our recent efforts to engineer next-generation CRISPR systems with enhanced specificity and versatility, enabling safer and more effective molecular therapies. These tools have also been applied to fungal genome engineering for the discovery of novel small molecules with therapeutic potential, and adapted for ultrasensitive viral detection to support rapid, accurate diagnostics critical for managing current and future pandemics. Together, these developments highlight the broad potential of engineered CRISPR platforms across therapeutic, diagnostic, and drug discovery applications.
About Professor Gao:
Dr. Xue (Sherry) Gao is the Presidential Penn Compact Associate Professor in the Departments of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, where she also serves as core faculty at the Center for Precision Engineering for Health (CPE4H). She earned her Ph.D. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from University of California, Los Angeles in 2013, followed by postdoctoral research at both the Harvard University and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Prior to joining Penn in early 2024, she was the Ted N. Law Assistant Professor at Rice University. Her research integrates biomolecular engineering, biochemistry, and chemical biology, with a major focus on developing precision genome-editing tools and ultrasensitive detection systems for human health applications, including small-molecule therapeutics, multiplexed CRISPR approaches, and viral diagnostics. Among her accolades are the 2022 NSF CAREER Award, the 2020 NIH MIRA R35 Award, and the 2024 BMES-CMBE Rising Star Award.