Abstract

As the most recent faculty recruit to the BioE program, Prof. Schmidt will introduce the research his group is pursuing at KAUST. Under his direction, the Laboratory for Applied Virology and Precision Medicine is spearheading innovative approaches in synthetic biology and virus-mediated directed evolution to advance technologies with concrete commercial and societal implications within the Kingdom and beyond. The focus of their current research includes enhancing viral gene therapy production capabilities and laying the foundation for a robust, state-of-the-art pandemic response infrastructure within Saudi Arabia.
In his upcoming presentation, Prof. Schmidt will delve into the utilization of viruses as tools for bioengineering, addressing the current gaps in viral vector production that hinder widespread application. He will also offer a glimpse into his team's strategic approach to overcoming these obstacles through the integration of synthetic biology techniques and cutting-edge automation, setting the stage for transformative advancements in the field.

Bio

Fabian received his Ph.D. from Cambridge University, UK. Subsequently, he joined the Hatziioannou & Bieniasz lab at Rockefeller University in New York, where he increasingly focused on translation aspects of virus-host relationships. He joined KAUST in October of 2022 as a BioE program core member and part of the KSHI.