Ting-Jen Cheng, Ph.D.

Senior Research Specialist/Scientist
Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica

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Ting-Jen “Rachel” Cheng, Ph.D., is a Research Specialist in Chemical Biology at Academia Sinica’s Genomics Research Center, where she leads the institute-wide High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Core Facility. Trained as a chemical engineer (B.Eng., 1993) and molecular biologist (Ph.D. Life Sciences, 1999) at National Tsing Hua University, Dr Cheng integrates chemistry, microbiology and automation to accelerate target validation and small-molecule discovery.
Since joining the GRC in 2005, she has built and supervised a one-stop HTS platform that supports target- and cell-based assays for antibiotics, antivirals, enzyme evolution and vaccine evaluation. Her team designs miniaturized screens, curates chemical and biological libraries, and advises collaborators on assay development and data interpretation.
 
Dr Cheng’s own research bridges mechanistic insight and therapeutic potential. Notable contributions include structure-guided identification of bacterial trans-glycosylase inhibitors (JACS 2018), creation of a Pichia-expressed universal influenza stem vaccine candidate (Virology 2019), and development of dual-target anticancer compounds that disrupt microtubules while inhibiting HDACs (Eur J Med Chem 2024).
 
Before Academia Sinica, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship (2000-2005) at the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences in California, where she established high-throughput systems for HIV protease inhibitor discovery. She is an active member of the American Society for Microbiology and the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening, and frequently mentors students and visiting scientists in good laboratory automation practice.
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Speech title & Synopsis

Leveraging High-Throughput Screening in Biomedical Research: From Principles to Practice

High-throughput screening (HTS) is a method used to rapidly test a large number of chemical, genetic, or biological samples for activity against a specific target. It has become a cornerstone technology in biomedical research, enabling rapid and large-scale evaluation of biological or chemical libraries to identify active compounds, functional genes, or key molecular targets. This presentation provides an accessible introduction to the principles and applications of HTS, outlining its role in accelerating discovery, particularly in identification of small molecules as hits. We will highlight practical considerations and proven strategies for designing and executing a successful screening campaign, including assay development, data quality metrics, and hit validation. In addition, we introduce the capabilities of a dedicated core facility that supports researchers in HTS projects—from concept to data interpretation—offering technical expertise, automation infrastructure, and collaborative opportunities. Finally, real-world case studies will be presented to demonstrate how HTS has been effectively applied to uncover new compound with therapeutic potentials. This presentation aims to equip attendees with foundational knowledge, actionable insights, and resources to confidently integrate HTS into their own research endeavors.