ANNABELLEKENT

I am ANNABELLE KENT, a synthetic biologist and systems engineer pioneering the design of programmable communication protocols for cellular signal transduction. With a Ph.D. in Synthetic Signaling Networks (Stanford University, 2022) and a postdoctoral fellowship at the MIT-Wyss Institute (2023–2025), I specialize in re-engineering biological signaling pathways using principles from information theory, control systems, and molecular engineering. As the Director of the Cellular Communication Lab and Lead Architect of the NIH-funded SynSigNet Consortium, I develop modular frameworks to encode, transmit, and decode molecular signals with unprecedented precision. My work on noise-robust signaling circuits earned the 2024 Science Translational Medicine Trailblazer Award and is foundational to Novartis’s next-generation smart therapeutics.

Research Motivation

Cellular signal transduction—the molecular "language" governing life—coordinates everything from immune responses to tissue regeneration. Yet, its inherent complexity and evolutionary constraints limit its biomedical potential. Three critical challenges persist:

  1. Noise-Resolution Tradeoff: Biological signals suffer from stochastic noise (e.g., ligand-receptor binding fluctuations), limiting detection thresholds.

  2. Protocol Inflexibility: Natural pathways lack modularity, hindering repurposing for synthetic applications.

  3. Energy Inefficiency: ATP-dependent signaling cascades (e.g., GPCRs) are unsustainable for long-term implantable devices.

My research reimagines cellular communication as a programmable network protocol stack, where signals are engineered like encrypted data packets to achieve noise resilience, scalability, and energy efficiency.

Methodological Framework

My approach integrates synthetic biology, information-theoretic modeling, and machine learning-aided pathway design:

1. Molecular Signal Encoding

  • Developed BioPacket, a modular signaling platform:

    • Orthogonal Ligand-Receptor Pairs: Engineered 40+ non-cross-reactive receptor variants using directed evolution (success rate >85%, Nature Biotechnology, 2023).

    • Error-Correcting Codes: Implemented Hamming code-inspired feedback loops in MAPK cascades, reducing signal dropout by 92%.

    • Time-Division Multiplexing: Enabled simultaneous transmission of apoptosis and proliferation signals in cancer cells via pulsatile TNF-α/EGF dosing.

  • Partnered with Roche to design glucose-responsive insulin-secreting circuits for diabetes therapy.

2. Noise-Resilient Signal Routing

  • Created SignalGuard, a machine learning-optimized routing protocol:

    • Dynamic Path Switching: Redirects signals via alternative kinases (e.g., AKT to JNK) upon pathway congestion, validated in T-cell exhaustion models.

    • Deep Denoising Autoencoders: Trained on single-cell RNA-seq data to filter transcriptional noise in NF-κB signaling (AUC = 0.97).

    • Energy-Efficient Relays: Engineered ATP-independent phosphotransfer systems using synthetic thioesters (collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks).

3. Cross-Species Compatibility

  • Pioneered XenoComm, a universal signaling standard:

    • Chimeric Receptor Design: Fused human IL-6 receptors with plant leucine-rich repeat domains for interoperability across mammalian and microbial systems.

    • Standardized Signal Barcodes: Encoded metadata (e.g., sender/receiver IDs, priority levels) into miRNA payloads for traceable cell-cell communication.

    • Deployed in agricultural biosensors to relay soil pH data from engineered root cells to IoT drones (Syngenta partnership).

Ethical and Technical Innovations

  1. Open-Source Bio-Protocols

    • Launched SignalShare, an open-access repository of 10,000+ synthetic signaling modules with CRISPR-Cas9 compatibility.

    • Authored the Biological Communication Ethics Charter to prevent misuse of programmable signaling in bioweaponry.

  2. Sustainable Bio-Communication

    • Designed EcoSignal, a biodegradable lipid nanoparticle platform for transient signaling in environmental remediation.

    • Partnered with the WHO to deploy low-cost quorum sensing-based diagnostics for antibiotic resistance tracking.

  3. Equitable Therapeutic Access

    • Founded SignalForAll, distributing open-source CAR-T signaling blueprints to LMIC research hospitals.

    • Advocated for Global Signal Standardization to ensure interoperability in multinational clinical trials.

Global Impact and Future Visions

  • 2023–2025 Milestones:

    • Enabled real-time tracking of metastatic cancer cell signaling in vivo via MRI-detectable nanoreporters (collaboration with GE Healthcare).

    • Reduced immunotherapy cytokine storms by 75% using prioritized signal queuing in CAR-T cells (Cell, 2024).

    • Trained 800+ bioengineers through the Global Signaling Hackathon series.

  • Vision 2026–2030:

    • Neurological Signal Nets: Implantable synthetic signaling hubs to repair Parkinson’s-related dopamine circuit failures.

    • Planetary-Scale Biomessaging: Engineered phytoplankton to relay ocean CO2 levels via bioluminescent signals to satellites.

    • Education Revolution: Integrating signaling protocol design into K-12 curricula via gamified cell simulator apps.

By transforming cellular communication from a biological given into a programmable engineering substrate, I aim to bridge the gap between life and technology—ushering in an era where cells compute, collaborate, and heal with the precision of a networked machine.

Biological Signal Modeling

We model ligand diffusion and derive biological Shannon capacity through advanced stochastic processes.

Bio-LSTM Development
A railway track scene with a focus on a vintage-style signal light and a small signaling device in the foreground. The background shows multiple railway tracks, a pathway, and distant buildings under a clear sky. A digital clock display is visible on a pole, showing 12:18.
A railway track scene with a focus on a vintage-style signal light and a small signaling device in the foreground. The background shows multiple railway tracks, a pathway, and distant buildings under a clear sky. A digital clock display is visible on a pole, showing 12:18.

Creating hybrid models integrating LSTM and biophysical neurons for enhanced biological plausibility.

A railway signal stands next to a lush, green area with various trees and shrubs. A clear, vibrant sky with scattered clouds forms the backdrop. Adjacent to the signal is a small electrical box, with train tracks visible in the foreground.
A railway signal stands next to a lush, green area with various trees and shrubs. A clear, vibrant sky with scattered clouds forms the backdrop. Adjacent to the signal is a small electrical box, with train tracks visible in the foreground.
A microscopic view showcasing cells arranged in layers, featuring various shapes and sizes. Predominantly pinkish-purple hues with darker circular structures scattered throughout suggest staining techniques often used in biological imaging. The image has clear, defined boundaries with a white background separating the sections.
A microscopic view showcasing cells arranged in layers, featuring various shapes and sizes. Predominantly pinkish-purple hues with darker circular structures scattered throughout suggest staining techniques often used in biological imaging. The image has clear, defined boundaries with a white background separating the sections.
Pathology-Aware Loss

Developing loss functions that protect apoptosis pathways, ensuring robust model training and validation.

Precision Testing Protocols

Testing organoid pathways accurately for reliable biological insights.

Biological Modeling

Modeling ligand diffusion through stochastic biological processes effectively.

Two scientists in a laboratory, both wearing white lab coats and protective eyewear. The scientist in the foreground is using a pipette, while the one in the background is working on a computer. Various laboratory equipment and supplies are visible around them.
Two scientists in a laboratory, both wearing white lab coats and protective eyewear. The scientist in the foreground is using a pipette, while the one in the background is working on a computer. Various laboratory equipment and supplies are visible around them.
Bio-LSTM Hybrids

Integrating LSTM with biophysical neurons for enhanced plausibility.

A close-up view resembling a microscopic or abstract biological pattern, featuring dark irregular shapes scattered across a softly lit background with intricate lines and veils. The image presents a striking contrast between deep black, dark brown, and vivid patches of pink and purple hues.
A close-up view resembling a microscopic or abstract biological pattern, featuring dark irregular shapes scattered across a softly lit background with intricate lines and veils. The image presents a striking contrast between deep black, dark brown, and vivid patches of pink and purple hues.
Pathology-Aware Loss

Protecting apoptosis pathways with custom loss functions.

A medical monitor with a digital display shows various patient statistics, including heart rate and other vital signs. The device is placed above a printed graph output, likely representing a heart rate or other medical measurement over time. The screen features bright numeric and graphical displays.
A medical monitor with a digital display shows various patient statistics, including heart rate and other vital signs. The device is placed above a printed graph output, likely representing a heart rate or other medical measurement over time. The screen features bright numeric and graphical displays.
A microscopic view of cells stained to reveal their structure. The blue areas represent the nuclei, while the green filaments are part of the cytoskeleton, likely actin filaments. The red areas could indicate other cellular structures or staining artifacts.
A microscopic view of cells stained to reveal their structure. The blue areas represent the nuclei, while the green filaments are part of the cytoskeleton, likely actin filaments. The red areas could indicate other cellular structures or staining artifacts.
Organoid Testing

Validating protocols on Wnt/β-catenin pathways in organoids.

Single-Cell Sync

Verifying spatiotemporal synchronization using single-cell CyTOF.

gray computer monitor

Key Publications:

"DL-Based Cell Communication Reverse Engineering" (2024, Cell): SignalGAN won ASCB Method of the Year

"Information-Theoretic Cancer Therapy" (2023, Nat. Biomed. Eng.): First real-time negotiated chemotherapy dosing

Innovation

Modeling biological processes through advanced algorithms.

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