This is a past event.

Dr. Lanrong Bi, Professor

Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University

Abstract:

Cellular function and dysfunction are governed not only by molecular identity but also by where molecules act within the cell. Many therapeutic and imaging agents fail to achieve their intended effects because they are unable to reach the specific subcellular compartments where critical signaling, metabolic, and quality control processes occur. This presentation focuses on chemical strategies for achieving precise subcellular delivery of therapeutic and imaging agents, with an emphasis on understanding and exploiting the rules that govern intracellular localization. I will discuss the development of organelle-targeted chemical platforms that enable controlled access to mitochondria and other intracellular compartments. By integrating medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, and advanced imaging approaches, these strategies allow the selective modulation and visualization of key pathways. These studies demonstrate that precision targeting at the subcellular level can fundamentally alter biological outcomes, shifting cellular responses from maladaptive stress signaling toward adaptive recovery.

Biography:

Dr. Lanrong Bi is a Professor of Chemistry at Michigan Technological University. Her research program focuses on the design of organelle-targetable therapeutic and imaging agents to enable precision and personalized medicine. She earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Beijing Medical University (Health Science Center, Peking University) and previously served as an Associate Research Scientist at the Columbia University Genome Center before joining the faculty at Michigan Tech. Dr. Bi has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and holds 10 U.S. patents, with work appearing in leading journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Autophagy. Her research has been cited more than 17,900 times, reflecting its broad impact on chemical biology and biomedical research. She is the recipient of Michigan Tech’s Bhakta Rath Research Award, shared with her Ph.D. student Nazmiye Yapici, now an independent NSF-funded principal investigator. Dr. Bi is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists. Her trainees have progressed to independent academic careers, including Catherine Bammert, who moved directly from Dr. Bi’s laboratory to a faculty position at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she is now an Associate Professor. These outcomes underscore Michigan Tech’s strong research environment and dedication to student success.