Bionanotechnology & Molecar Bioimaging Lab
Research Field
Dr. Charles Lai is an Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Dr. Lai received his BSc and PhD from the University of British Columbia, Canada. His research focuses on developing molecular bioimaging tools to investigate biological phenomena in vivo, including nanosized bioparticles (i.e., extracellular vesicles [EVs]; exosomes) and DNA repairs.
His recent research identified dynamic organotropism of cancer EVs, as well as non-invasively tracked DNA repair dynamics under genome-editing and anti-cancer treatments. His work has been published in top tier journals such as ACS Nano, Advanced Materials, Advanced Science, Nature Communications, Nature Protocols, and Nucleic Acids Research.
We create and apply new technologies to explore biological phenomena!
Welcome to the Lai Lab at Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Our research focuses on molecular bioimaging, cell-to-cell communication, and gene therapy.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes and microvesicles are nanometer-sized particles released by cells to transfer proteins, nucleic acids and lipids to communicate locally and distally. By contrast, abnormal cells exploit EVs as a means to guide normal cells for disease propagation. While the (patho)physiological functions of EVs have been reported, it remains unclear as to how cells employ them as a communication network. Our lab combines expertise on imaging and genetic engineering to develop novel imaging technologies to further our understanding and application of EV-based cell-to-cell communications.
Investigating DNA repair dynamics is another main research arm of Lai Lab. Eukaryotic cells constantly repair DNA to maintain their genome integrity and cell viability. In fact, DNA repair dynamic plays a key role in the efficacy of cancer and gene therapies. However, studying DNA repair in vivo is challenging where conventional methods typically require disruption of cells/animals. Our research focuses on developing non-disruptive and highly sensitive methods to track DNA repair dynamics and enhance cancer and genome therapy developments.
- Molecular Bioimaging
- Extracellular Vesicles (EVs; e.g. exosomes, microvesicles)
- Pharmacokinetics
- DNA repairs & Gene Therapy
2022-25 International Outstanding Young Scholars Research Grant (國際年輕傑出學者研究計畫), National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan
2022 Young Scholars' Creativity Award (年輕學者創新獎), Foundation for the Advancement of Outstanding Scholarship (傑出人才發展基金會), Taiwan
2021 Young Scientist Award (青年醫學科技獎), YungShin Tien Te Lee Biomedical Foundation (永信李天德醫學基金會), Taiwan
2020-24 Career Development Awards (前瞻計畫), Academia Sinica, Taiwan
2020-23 Excellent Young Scholar Research Grant (優秀年輕學者研究計畫), National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan
2017-19 Academia Sinica Salary Bonus for Outstanding Faculties and Scholars, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
2015-17 Ministry of Science and Technology Salary Bonus for Recruitment of Outstanding Faculties and Scholars, Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
2015 Partners in Excellence (Teamwork), Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
2013 Excellence in Research, American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy, USA
2013 Travel Award, American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy, USA
2013 Young Investigator Award, International Society for Extracellular Vesicles, USA
2011-14 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), Canada
EDUCATION
2010 PhD - University of British Columbia, Canada
2003 BSc - University of British Columbia, Canada
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2021-present Associate Research Fellow - Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica
2022-present Associate Professor (adjunct) - Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University
2017-2021 Assistant Research Fellow - Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica
2018-2022 Assistant Professor (adjunct) - Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, Academia Sinica
and National Taiwan University
2015-2017 Assistant Professor – Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University
2015 Visiting Scholar – Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica
2014-2015 Instructor – Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School
2014-2015 Assistant in Neuroscience – Dept. Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital
2010-2014 Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Fellow – Dept. Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and
Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School