Behind the Breakthroughs Shana Kelley: Instrumented Tissues for Monitoring Human Body In Real-Time
Sep 24, 2025
Shana Kelley, a Professor at Northwestern University and President of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago, dives into the groundbreaking world of instrumented tissues. She discusses her innovative work monitoring inflammation through real-time measurement technologies. Shana shares her journey from DNA research to founding startups and balancing academia with industry. She reveals the impact of collaborative, multidisciplinary teams in high-risk projects and explores the potential of these technologies for chronic diseases and clinical translation. A fascinating blend of science and real-world application!
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DNA Electron Transfer Sparked A Startup
- Shana Kelley discovered electron transfer through DNA during her Caltech PhD and used it to detect mismatches.
- That discovery led to patents and a successful company spinout, sparking her interest in translational work.
Joining Northwestern And Leading The Biohub
- Kelley described moving to Northwestern and helping win the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago grant with partner universities.
- She accepted the role as Biohub president to pursue multidisciplinary, high-risk biomedical research.
Build Tools To Answer Tough Biology Questions
- Start from hard biological questions and then build the measurement tools needed to answer them.
- Designing the right instrument follows the unmet scientific question, not the other way around.