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Mastering mRNA Synthesis: In Vitro Transcription, 5′ Capping, and Poly(A) Tail Engineering for Therapeutic mRNA
Introduction Messenger RNA (mRNA) has redefined what is possible in modern medicine. As a therapeutic platform, it enables rapid vaccine development, personalized cancer immunotherapy, and protein replacement strategies for rare diseases. However, behind every successful mRNA therapeutic lies a carefully engineered synthesis process. While clinical outcomes often dominate the conversation around mRNA therapeutics, the quality of mRNA synthesis ultimately determines translatio

Jason Lu
Jun 3, 20254 min read


The Rise of mRNA Therapeutics: From Genetic Messenger to a Transformative Medical Platform
Introduction Messenger RNA (mRNA), once a niche topic confined to molecular biology laboratories, has rapidly emerged as one of the most transformative technologies in modern medicine. While the COVID-19 pandemic brought mRNA vaccines into the global spotlight, their success was not an overnight miracle—it was the culmination of decades of foundational research, engineering breakthroughs, and persistent efforts to overcome the inherent fragility of RNA. Today, mRNA therapeuti

Jason Lu
May 18, 20255 min read


High-Throughput LNP Screening Using DNA and mRNA Barcoding Technologies
Introduction: The Delivery Problem in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Nucleic acid therapeutics—such as mRNA vaccines, siRNA drugs, and CRISPR-based gene editors—have transformed modern medicine. However, the clinical success of these modalities depends not only on the therapeutic payload itself, but critically on how efficiently and selectively it can be delivered in vivo . Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as the gold-standard platform for systemic nucleic acid delivery. By

Jason Lu
May 12, 20255 min read


How Lipid Nanoparticles Enable Advanced Nucleic Acid Delivery: Engineering Principles of LNP Drug Delivery
Introduction Over the past decade, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a cornerstone technology in nucleic acid drug delivery , enabling the clinical success of messenger RNA (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and gene-editing modalities such as CRISPR-Cas9. Approved products like Onpattro® (patisiran) and the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have demonstrated that effective delivery—rather than payload design alone—is often the decisive fa

Jason Lu
Apr 28, 20254 min read


Job Interview Red Flags Series 1: Why “I Don’t Make Mistakes” Is a Major Warning Sign
Job Interview Red Flags: Why “I Don’t Make Mistakes” Is a Major Warning Sign (Interview Red Flags – Series #1) Introduction Many job candidates believe that presenting themselves as flawless is the safest interview strategy. However, from a hiring manager’s perspective, statements like “I don’t really make mistakes” are among the most common job interview red flags . This article examines why this response raises concern during job interviews, how interviewers interpret this

Jason Lu
Jan 21, 20254 min read


Design of Experiment (DoE): Principles, Advantages, and Impact on Scientific Research and Development
Introduction: When “More Experiments” Is No Longer the Answer In modern scientific research and engineering development, the central challenge is no longer whether to run experiments, but how to extract maximum insight from limited time, resources, and experimental capacity . Across drug development, bioprocess optimization, materials science, and platform R&D, researchers routinely face systems governed by multiple interacting variables. Traditional one-factor-at-a-time (OFA

Jason Lu
Sep 22, 20243 min read


Inside the Pharmaceutical Industry (III): How AI and Digital Transformation Are Redefining Drug Development
Introduction | AI in Pharmaceutical Drug Development The pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a profound shift as AI in pharmaceutical drug development and digital transformation reshape how modern medicines are discovered, tested, manufactured, and delivered. In Part I of this series, we explored the essential functions inside pharma companies. In Part II, we examined how drugs navigate the regulatory approval process, market access, and post-market surveillance. In this t

Jason Lu
Apr 1, 20244 min read


Inside the Pharmaceutical Industry (II): From Pharmaceutical Regulatory Approval Process to Market Access and Post-Market Surveillance
Exploring the Pharmaceutical Industry: An Overview of the Journey from Regulatory Approval to Market Access and Post-Market Surveillance. Introduction In Part I, we explored the key departments that drive the pharmaceutical industry — from R&D and CMC to clinical trials and business development. But even after a drug proves safe and effective in clinical trials, the journey is far from over. Before a treatment can reach patients, it must pass through one of the most complex p

Jason Lu
Mar 10, 20245 min read


Inside the Pharmaceutical Industry (I): Exploring Key Departments and Their Roles in Drug Development
The pharmaceutical industry is more than just lab coats and experiments — it’s a complex ecosystem where science, engineering, and business intersect. From R&D and manufacturing to clinical trials, regulatory affairs, and business development, each department plays a critical role in transforming a molecule into a life-changing medicine. Explore how these teams work together to bring innovation from the lab to the patient.

Jason Lu
Mar 3, 20246 min read


How to Ace Your Next Interview Like a Strategist | job application meme(3) - STAR method Interiview
In Part 1 , we explored how to decode job descriptions and approach the application journey strategically. In Part 2 , we transformed those insights into a data-driven résumé that gets noticed. Now in Part 3 , we’ll take the next crucial step — turning interviews from high-pressure tests into strategic conversations . 1. Research Beyond the Basics Preparation isn’t just memorizing company facts. Ask deeper questions: What’s the company’s growth story? How does this role contr

Jason Lu
Apr 10, 20233 min read


How to Write a Resume That Gets You Hired | Job Application Meme(2)
How to Prepare an Effective Resume That Gets You Interview Invitations A resume is the most important document when it comes to finding a job. Previously, I shared about the Curriculum Vitae (CV) required for school applications. But what exactly are the differences between a resume and a CV ? And how can we prepare an attractive resume that increases our chances of getting an interview invitation from hiring managers? In this article, I’ll walk you through what a resume

Jason Lu
Mar 14, 20234 min read


Essential Tips to Ace Your Job Application Process | job application meme(1)
Graduating soon and feeling unsure about your job search? This guide shares seven practical tips to help you clarify your goals, build a strong resume, leverage networking, and stay positive through the process. Perfect for biotech and science students preparing to enter the industry.

Jason Lu
Feb 27, 20233 min read


Tao Te Ching Chapter 3: Wu Wei and the Power of Environmental Design in Leadership and Life
Original Text Do not exalt the worthy, and the people will not contend. Do not value rare treasures, and the people will not steal. Do not display what arouses desire, and the hearts of the people will not be disturbed. Therefore, the sage governs by: Emptying their minds, Filling their bellies, Weakening their ambitions, Strengthening their bones. Always keeping the people unknowing and without desire, So that the clever ones do not dare to act. Act through non-action (wu we

Jason Lu
Feb 8, 20233 min read


Tao Te Ching Chapter 2: The Relativity of Beauty and Goodness|Psychological Insights and a Scientist’s Perspective
Tao Te Ching Chapter 2: Relativity|Original Text & Core Ideas When everyone in the world knows beauty as beauty, then ugliness already exists. When everyone knows good as good, then not-good already exists. Being and non-being give birth to each other; Difficult and easy complete each other; Long and short contrast each other; High and low incline toward each other; Sound and tone harmonize with each other; Front and back follow each other. Therefore, the sage acts through no

Jason Lu
Oct 6, 20223 min read


Modern Reflections on the Tao Te Ching I: “The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao” — From Biomedical Research to Leadership Wisdom
A solitary figure in traditional attire gazes over misty mountains, capturing the serene essence of contemplation in a landscape inspired by classical Chinese ink wash. Accompanying calligraphy reflects philosophical wisdom. Introduction As I’ve grown older, read more, and entered the professional world, I’ve found myself drawn to books that I never would have picked up as a student in Taiwan. In recent years, I’ve written extensively about leadership development and team gro

Jason Lu
Aug 20, 20223 min read


Professor Robert Langer at MIT: My Postdoctoral Advisor and the Edison of Medicine
The giant in biomedical engineering, Robert Langer Introduction As a former postdoctoral researcher in Professor Robert Langer’s MIT lab , it is both an honor and a pleasure to introduce my mentor and share my personal journey into one of the most creative and influential research environments in the world. Professor Robert Langer at MIT is not only a pioneer in biomedical engineering but also a scientist whose work has fundamentally reshaped modern medicine, drug delivery,

Jason Lu
May 3, 20225 min read


Leadership Series (Part 3): Know Who You Are — Personality Awareness as a Leadership Skill
Introduction In the previous article, we explored self-awareness leadership and why understanding our emotions, values, strengths, and blind spots is the foundation of effective leadership. However, self-awareness does not end with reflection and feedback alone. To deepen personality awareness leadership , leaders must also understand their behavioral patterns —how they naturally think, decide, communicate, and interact with others. One practical way to do this is through pe

Jason Lu
Apr 20, 20224 min read


Leadership Series (Series 2): Self-Awareness — The Foundation of Effective Leadership
Leadership Series (Series 2): Self-Awareness — The Foundation of Effective Leadership Introduction In the previous article, we explored Everyday Leadership and why leadership is not defined by job titles but by influence. This second article focuses on the core skill that shapes every great leader: Self-awareness — understanding yourself before you lead others. Self-awareness helps you recognize your emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values, and blind spots. Without this foun

Jason Lu
Apr 6, 20224 min read


Everyday Leadership (Series 1): Build Leadership Skills to Accelerate Your Career Growth
Everyday Leadership (Series 1): Build Leadership Skills to Accelerate Your Career Growth Leadership today is no longer defined by titles or authority. In modern workplaces—especially in science, biotech, academia, and technology— leadership is a behavior , shaped by how we communicate, collaborate, and influence others. This article begins my leadership series by introducing the powerful concept of Everyday Leadership , a framework that helps anyone build leadership skills an

Jason Lu
Apr 1, 20224 min read


Biomedical Engineering Applications: How Engineers Transform Medicine — Lessons from Robert Langer
What engineers can do in biomedical field? Lessons from MIT and Robert Langer Engineers are trained to solve problems using science, mathematics, and systematic thinking. In our daily lives, civil, chemical, electrical, and software engineers continuously improve infrastructure, technology, and productivity. But what can engineers do in medicine? The answer lies in biomedical engineering applications —a field that translates engineering principles into real-world medical solu

Jason Lu
Nov 7, 20216 min read
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