Dr. Sang Yup Lee from KAIST Visited TIBCAS
On June 23, Dr. Sang Yup Lee, the Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Senior Vice President for Research at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAlST), visited Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (TIBCAS), at the invitation of Prof. ZHANG Dawei, the Deputy Director-General of TIBCAS.
During the visit, Dr. Sang Yup Lee gave a lecture entitled "Systems metabolic engineering: strategies and applications" hosted by Prof. ZHANG Dawei. During the lecture, Dr. Sang Yup Lee stated that, "Microbial systems have long been harnessed for the biosynthesis of a wide array of valuable products, including industrial chemicals, fuels, advanced materials, and bioactive natural compounds. Yet, the innate metabolic capabilities of wild-type microorganisms often fall short of meeting the demands for high-level production. This challenge highlights the critical importance of metabolic engineering, which enables the rational reprogramming of cellular pathways to optimize titer, yield, and productivity." To overcome the limitations of conventional approaches, a comprehensive strategy known as systems metabolic engineering has emerged. Dr. Sang Yup Lee led his team delved into the core methodologies of systems metabolic engineering and their role in building robust microbial cell factories. Through several case studies, his team demonstrated engineered strains that can produce a variety of compounds, ranging from bulk chemicals and biopolymers to high-value therapeutics and nutraceuticals. In the future, systems metabolic engineering is expected to become a cornerstone of sustainable industrial biotechnology and health-promoting innovation. His academic insights provided valuable guidance for the researchers and students present, sparked new research ideas, and breathed new life and direction into future research endeavors.
After the lecture, Prof. XIANG Hua, the Director-General of TIBCAS, presented him with the commemorative plaque.
During the visit, Dr. Sang Yup Lee also engaged in in-depth exchange and discussion with TIBCAS’s related leadership and researchers.
The commemorative plaque given by Prof. XIANG Hua
The lecture given by Dr. Sang Yup Lee
The lecture