Cherng-Wen Darren Tan

Dr. Cherng-Wen Darren Tan is a faculty member at the Institute of Synthetic Bioarchitectures, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His research focuses on engineering artificial cellular systems for biomedical applications, particularly in disease treatment and drug delivery. He has been actively involved in advancing synthetic biology through the development of artificial cells, cytoplasts, and decoy systems targeting diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

• PhD, National University of Singapore (2009)
• BSc (Hons), Cell and Molecular Biology, National University of Singapore (1999)

His research interests include synthetic biology, artificial cells, membrane engineering, polymersomes, targeted drug delivery, and microfluidics. He applies these to model and treat human diseases by creating biomimetic systems that replicate cellular functions. His work bridges fundamental science with translational engineering, aiming to solve real-world medical challenges.

The 15 most recent publications highlight a strong trend in bottom-up synthetic biology, with emphasis on constructing functional cellular mimics using polymersomes and cell-derived vesicles. Key themes include membrane protein integration, in vitro protein synthesis, and microfluidic analysis of cell behavior. His work spans disciplines such as biophysics, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering.

• President Graduate Fellowship, National University of Singapore (2005)

Dr. Tan has supervised numerous master’s theses and contributed to research projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). He has also served as a guest editor for Micromachines and performed peer review for funding agencies like the European Research Council. His lab focuses on creating functional synthetic bioarchitectures that emulate natural cell systems for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.