This seminar will highlight four major projects from Dr. Gilad’s laboratory, each representing a step toward engineering molecular systems that can sense, process, and report biological activity within living organisms. Together, these efforts illustrate how synthetic biology and molecular engineering can converge to build programmable, clinically relevant biological devices.
We will begin with the design of biotriggers—engineered molecular switches that enable remote activation of enzymes and gene expression using electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Derived from a magneto-receptive gene cloned from the glass catfish (Kryptopterus vitreolus), these constructs operate as modular control units within synthetic circuits. They can function independently or as part of integrated logic gates, responding to multiple inputs such as magnetic and chemical cues. This systems-engineering framework enables precise, low-noise regulation of cellular behavior with minimal interference in endogenous pathways.
The second section will focus on genetically encoded biosensors engineered for real-time molecular imaging. We will describe the development of a dual-modality gadolinium-binding protein that bridges fluorescence and magnetic readouts. Gadolinium coordination simultaneously enhances fluorescence and shortens the T1 relaxation time, creating a biocompatible, scalable platform for next-generation, protein-based contrast agents that are suitable for environmental and clinical applications.
Finally, we will discuss the engineering of synthetic and semi-synthetic proteins that generate Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) contrast. Using a machine-learning–guided genetic programming algorithm, we expanded the design space for peptides capable of producing MRI-detectable contrast and assembled them into robust reporter proteins for tracking therapeutic cells and gene vectors in vivo.
Inspired by adaptive systems in marine biology, our lab’s long-term goal is to engineer living systems as programmable devices for biomedical and environmental applications. Ongoing efforts include developing bio-AI architectures, biocomputing systems for early disease detection, metabolically engineered biogenic materials, and integrated bioelectronic and brain–machine interfaces. Collectively, these technologies represent a scalable, engineering-driven approach to solving complex problems in biomedicine and human health.
