Akos Nyerges, Ph.D.

Our lab at Harvard Medical School works at the interface of directed evolution, synthetic genomics, and protein engineering. We rewrite genomes and reassign codons to equip engineered cells with functions inaccessible to natural organisms: complete resistance to natural viruses, escape-free containment of cells and their transgenes, and ribosomal synthesis of polymers, peptides, and biologic drugs with chemistries beyond the canonical amino-acid alphabet.

We are exploring how the genetic code can be radically rewritten — establishing genetic firewalls that make engineered cells resistant to all natural viruses and biocontain their genetic information from the natural ecosystem — and harnessing these advances for drug discovery and delivery. We strive to translate our findings and technologies into next-generation therapeutics and secure biotechnologies.