Tim Lu was motivated to make the switch from programming electrical computers to programming biological computers because he felt “we were on the cusp of a revolution". Today, the feeling of growth in the field of bioengineered medicine is still palpable. As Tim says, “Our raw ability to read DNA and write DNA is accelerating at an exponential pace, in some cases even faster than computers have developed, and this is going to lead to a democratization and an acceleration of biological programming.”

Tim uses his extensive background in computer programming, electrical engineering and microbiology to engineer cells to act as living therapeutics. Watch his TEDMED 2018 Talk to learn more about his work in bioengineered medicine and what he believes we need to bring programming for bioengineered medicine to the next level.