معرفی
Dr. Shuaihua Gao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Tulane University's School of Science & Engineering, where she launched her independent career in summer 2023. Her research integrates pharmaceutical chemistry, biochemistry, enzymology, protein engineering, and bioinformatics to address challenges in both basic science and translational applications. Prior to Tulane, she conducted postdoctoral (2018-2023) and graduate research (2016-2018) in Biophysical Chemistry with Prof. Judith Klinman at UC Berkeley, following her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and Technology at Beijing University of Chemical and Technology.
Her educational journey includes:
- B.S. in Pharmaceutical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical and Technology (2009-2013), focusing on gamma-lactamase applications for anti-HIV drug biosynthesis
- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical and Technology (2013-2018), developing high-throughput screening for gamma-lactamase engineering
Dr. Gao's research program spans three synergistic pillars. First, she engineers proteins for biomedical applications—such as optimizing fluorinase for PET radiotracer production in cancer imaging—using cell-free synthesis and directed evolution. Second, she develops biosynthetic pathways for novel therapeutics, including rational design of fluorinated non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) to create antitumor and antibiotic compounds. Third, she investigates the biophysical basis of protein function through temperature-dependent hydrogen deuterium exchange (HDX), NMR, and fluorescence spectroscopy, revealing how protein dynamics govern catalytic efficiency. This integrated approach bridges fundamental enzymology with practical solutions for drug discovery and medical diagnostics.
Her publication record (2012-2022) demonstrates a clear evolution from applied biocatalysis (engineering gamma-lactamases for pharmaceutical synthesis) to fundamental studies of protein dynamics. Recent work emphasizes innovative biophysical methods like TD-HDX-MS to decode thermal networks in enzymes, while maintaining strong connections to therapeutic applications. The research consistently targets high-impact problems in enzyme engineering, with implications for sustainable chemistry and precision medicine.
As leader of the Gao Lab, Dr. Gao fosters an interdisciplinary environment where chemistry, biology, and engineering converge to discover and engineer proteins for transformative applications. The lab's mission focuses on understanding disease mechanisms through protein interactions to design next-generation therapeutics and diagnostics, with particular emphasis on cancer imaging and novel antimicrobial agents.
