UofM Alumnus Diego Velasquez Publishes Groundbreaking Gene Editing Research
University of Memphis alumnus Diego Velasquez Pulgarin has co-authored a high-impact study published in Nucleic Acids Research (Impact Factor: 16.7), unveiling a powerful optogenetic gene editing tool called BLU-VIPR.
The BLU-VIPR system enables light-controlled gene editing in hard-to-target cells, notably achieving successful in vivo editing of T lymphocytes—a first in the field. This tool offers precise spatiotemporal control using blue light to trigger expression of guide RNAs, expanding potential applications in cancer immunotherapy, neuroscience, and regenerative medicine (Patent Pending).
The research marks a major stride in synthetic biology and positions Velasquez as a rising figure in bioengineering innovation.
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