I am deeply interested in attending the Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2025 because I view it as an ideal environment to exchange ideas, collaborate, and be inspired. In particular, I believe that the unique possibility to interact with Shaw Laureates would be highly inspirational and thought-provoking. Furthermore, the possibility to connect with other brilliant young scientists from various academic backgrounds from all around the world would be an extraordinary opportunity to develop new perspectives and ideas beyond the limitations of one’s research field.
Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, where I focus on studying non-canonical structures of DNA. Over the years, my work has been driven by curiosity, and I strongly believe that interdisciplinary collaboration is key to overcoming some of the most pressing issues our world faces today. I am confident that my academic background, research interests, and commitment to contributing meaningfully to global discussions align closely with the values and goals of the Forum. For this reason, I would be honoured to join the 2025 cohort of participants.

My research explores the potential of non-canonical DNA structures like G-quadruplexes (G4s) as novel therapeutic targets in combating global threats such as multidrug-resistant bacteria and cancer. Previously, I focussed on developing synthetic DNA molecules, known as aptamers, for the detection and inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a critical pathogen causing significant global morbidity and mortality. For this purpose, I developed a novel high-throughput method by repurposing an optical next-generation sequencing platform to rapidly identify DNA sequences that bind with high specificity to target proteins, significantly increasing the efficacy of aptamer selection. This technique enabled the identification of aptamers that inhibit key P. aeruginosa proteins, demonstrating the potential for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Building upon this novel method, I now investigate the role of naturally occurring G4s in gene regulation, aiming to understand their interactions as well as their potential as targets for more specific and less toxic chemotherapy drugs. For this, I am working on novel high-throughput biophysical assays to analyse the stability of G4s and their influence on DNA polymerase behaviour under various conditions. This promises to offer crucial insights into the importance and biological function of G4s.