The Choi Lab develops new synthetic biology tools to study cell-fate decisions in development. During development, cells differentiate into various cell types with distinct functions. To understand how different cell types are made, we need a tool to observe cells’ previous and current states, as well as the sequence of events they undergo. These novel tools will provide new insights into understanding cell-fate decisions and facilitate cellular engineering for future therapy.
Biography
Junhong Choi is an Assistant Member of the Developmental Biology Program at Sloan Kettering Institute. During his postdoctoral studies, he developed several genomic recording methods, where cells’ past are recorded as changes in genomic sequences using precision genome editing, as well as a new genome editing method for programming kilobase-scale precision deletion. After his postdoctoral training, he started his lab in March 2024 at MSKCC, where he aims to continue to develop new genomic recording technology based on synthetic biology and apply these methods to understand how changes in cell states are programmed during development and cancer.
Distinctions:
2025 Searle Scholars Award
2024 Damon Runyon-Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists
2023 NHGRI K99/R00 Transition to Independence Award
