Abstract:
The rapid evolution of synthetic biology, driven by advances in DNA sequencing and synthesis, has transformed our ability to study, design, and manipulate biological systems. In my doctoral research, I have focused on developing novel, compact, and programmable tools that address key limitations in genome editing and molecular diagnostics.
To overcome challenges such as the size, sequence constraints, and off-target effects associated with conventional genome editors, I developed two novel genome editing platforms. I established an innovative novel system—PNP editors—which combines peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) with prokaryotic Argonaute (pAgo) proteins to achieve precise, sequence-specific DNA cleavage. This system demonstrated high specificity, broad targeting flexibility, and compatibility with delivery vectors, laying the groundwork for future in vivo applications. Additionally, I engineered a novel compact genome editing tool by fusing a miniature CRISPR-Cas protein (GoCas12m) with FokI nuclease. The resulting GoCas12m-FokI dual guided editor displayed comparable editing efficiency to standard systems while significantly reducing off-target activity and maintaining a small molecular size compatible with AAV delivery vector—an important feature for future clinical gene therapy applications.
In response to global needs highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, my work also contributed to the development of novel CRISPR-based diagnostics platforms, including Vigilant, iSCAN-V2, and Optima-dx. These platforms offer robust, rapid, and portable detection of viral pathogens, addressing key limitations of existing diagnostic technologies and demonstrating strong potential for point-of-care and resource-limited settings.

Bio:
MS - Pharmaceutical Sciences - University of Zagreb, Croatia
MS - Molecular Biology - University of Zagreb, Croatia