Abstract

We present how a combination of small-molecule chemistry, chemical biology, and model-organism engineering biology helps to resolve the key mechanistic puzzles surrounding reactive metabolite signalling in health & disease. Focus will be placed on innovations and applications of interdisciplinary technologies with which we can decode the multifaceted biology of reactive metabolites in living systems with precise timing, locale, contexts, and metabolite-chemotype, and how the resulting new knowledge illuminates streamlined therapeutic avenues. Speaker bio: Aye completed her undergraduate studies in chemistry at Oxford UK (2000-2004), and doctoral research in organic chemistry with Prof. David Evans at Harvard University (2004-2009). She then switched her research discipline to life science and received her postdoctoral training with Prof. JoAnne Stubbe at MIT (2009-2012). Science in the Aye lab seeks to understand non-canonical cell signalling processes. Her laboratory is most well-known for investigations into electrophile signalling, a nuanced communication mode whereby on-target engagement between specific reactive metabolites and target proteins, orchestrates precision responses at cellular/organismal levels.

Contributions from her team have been recognised by several honours; recent examples include: 2025 ERC Advanced Grant, 2024 UK Academy of Medical Sciences Professorship, Klaus Grohe Prize in Drug Discovery, 2022 ERC Consolidator Grant, 2021 Tetrahedron young investigator award, International Chemical Biology Society Global Lectureship Award for distinguished investigators in chemical biology, ACS Arthur Cope Scholar, and 2020 ACS Eli Lilly award in biological chemistry.