The Del Vecchio group focuses on model-based analysis, design, and control of biomolecular circuits in bacterial and mammalian cells. A foundational problem we are interested in is context-aware strategies for designing genetic circuits such that a desired behavior is conserved across different genetic and cellular contexts. Our main current applications are: multiplexed bio-sensing in bacteria, cell fate (re)programming including control of chromatin state through novel genetic circuits, and designing artificial cell fate differentiation circuits in mammalian cells.
Our current ability of designing synthetic genetic circuits from the composition of simpler functional units is limited by context-dependence. Our research establishes context-aware models and design frameworks to make design outcomes more predictable.
Learn moreIdentifying unwanted interactions among genetic circuits is critical to achieve satisfactory design outcomes. We study how learning of these interactions can be achieved from data obtained from isolated modules behavior.
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Cell fate (re)programming and biomanufacturing often rely on forced expression of proteins, which become endogenously silenced. We investigate how feedback control of chromatin state can mitigate this problem.
Learn moreWe are rewiring the chromatin modification circuitry of mammalian cells in order to control analog memory formation, a new mode of memory that we recently discovered. This will have applications to next generation tissue engineering, organoids, cell fate
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