Dr. Gang Bao's lab at Rice University focuses on understanding and improving CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing techniques, specifically for treating sickle cell disease (SCD). They investigate unintended genetic changes that occur during the editing process and work on developing methods to minimize these effects to enhance treatment safety and efficacy. The lab's research aims to bridge the gap between innovative gene editing techniques and their clinical application, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Rebecca R. Richards-Kortum's lab focuses on developing innovative diagnostic tools to improve healthcare accessibility, especially in resource-limited settings. They create advanced imaging technologies that enable quick and accurate disease diagnosis, aiming to enhance surgical outcomes for cancer patients and provide effective screening for conditions like esophageal cancer and sickle cell disease. Their work merges biomedical engineering, optics, and artificial intelligence to revolutionize how pathologies are diagnosed and managed.