2026 Winston Ko Lecture

Studying biological function and developing targeted cell therapies requires tools to image and control cells deep within the body. While light-based methods work well in small, transparent organisms, they are limited in deeper tissues. Dr. Shapiro’s work addresses this challenge by engineering biomolecules that interact with ultrasound and magnetic fields - energy forms that penetrate tissue effectively. This talk will highlight the development of ultrasound-responsive biomolecular reporters and actuators based on gas vesicles, air-filled protein nanostructures that scatter sound waves for imaging. This talk will demonstrate how these tools enable in vivo imaging, sensing of cellular signals, and control of cell behavior. Together with thermal bioswitches that regulate gene expression via temperature, these technologies offer new possibilities for non-invasive, remote-controlled cell therapies and diagnostics.

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Host or Publisher UC Davis Chemistry Department