Research in the Tsai Lab resides at the interface of chemistry and biology, centering on the theme of Chemical Precision Engineering of Protein Function. Proteins underpin virtually every aspect of cellular physiology. Their function, localization, trafficking, and molecular interactions determine outcomes in health and disease. By integrating molecular design, organic synthesis, genetic code expansion, cell-based assays, and animal models, we have built a versatile platform to interrogate and reprogram proteins with spatial, temporal, and molecular precision.
Our research spans three synergistic directions: protein modification and engineering, precision-targeted therapeutics, and artificial enzymes. Each addresses key scientific questions with state-of-the-art chemical biology. Together, these advances establish a chemistry-driven framework that explains how proteins work in their native cellular environment, enables safer and more selective therapies, and broadens catalytic function beyond biology’s natural repertoire.
Tsai Lab 