Welcome to the Duan Lab at The Chinese University of Hong Kong! We are a passionate, interdisciplinary team working at the interface of chemistry, cell biology, biophysics, and synthetic biology to decode and reprogram complex biological systems. Our researchers - with diverse backgrounds spanning chemistry, biology, engineering, and medicine - develop innovative tools to achieve precise, real-time control of cellular processes. By harnessing cutting-edge optogenetic and chemogenetic technologies, we pioneer strategies with unparalleled specificity and spatiotemporal resolution to investigate and control signaling pathways and organelle activities. We aim to leverage these approaches to both uncover fundamental biological mechanisms and discover exciting new phenomena, while developing innovative applications in next-generation gene and cell-based therapies.