마이크로바이옴공학 연구실

Understanding host-microbiome crosstalk: We develop and utilize organ-on-a-chip technologies to reconstitute mucosal host-microbiome interfaces such as the gut, skin, vagina, and bile duct. We co-culture the human microbiome, especially bacteria, with human epithelium and dissect various unknown crosstalk mechanisms between the host and the microbiome to better understand how the microbiome affects health and disease. Development of microbiome-based therapeutics: We design, build, and test engineered probiotics, so-called engineered live biotherapeutics (eLBPs), based on synthetic biology technologies. We use commensal or probiotic bacterial strains to target specific diseases and conditions, such as infections, cancer, metabolic diseases, and inflammation. We envision eLBPs as next-generation smart probiotics that overcome the limitations of existing probiotics. Validation & translation: We integrate organ-on-a-chip technology with synthetic biology to develop a reliable pipeline to test the safety and efficacy of microbiome-based therapeutics. We also strive to bridge the translational gap between animal models and organ-on-a-chip platforms, with the ultimate goal of advancing human biomedical research. We are interested in probing biological questions using engineering approaches. By utilizing Organ-on-a-chip and Synthetic biology techniques, we try to better understand and utilize host-microbiome crosstalk to develop better diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Our lab is based at the Department of Bio & Brain Engineering at KAIST.