Rate My Professor Kent Lai

Lai's research specializes in developing novel therapeutics for rare diseases, including Classic Galactosemia and Phosphoglucomutase 1 Deficiency, as well as for cancers. Serving as Principal Investigator, he has obtained grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. He participates as a member of the American Heart Association and NIH SBIR/STTR Study Sections, holds the position of Associate Editor for BMC Medical Genetics, and is an Editorial Board Member for Heliyon (Elsevier). Key publications encompass "Novel mRNA-Based Therapy Reduces Toxic Galactose Metabolites and Overcomes Galactose Sensitivity in a Mouse Model of Classic Galactosemia" (Molecular Therapy, 2020), "A novel phosphoglucomutase-deficient mouse model reveals aberrant glycosylation and early embryonic lethality" (Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, 2019), "Salubrinal enhances eIF2α phosphorylation and improves fertility in a mouse model of Classic Galactosemia" (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease, 2019), "Discovery of novel inhibitors of human galactokinase by virtual screening" (Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design, 2019), and "High-throughput screening for human galactokinase inhibitors" (Journal of Biomolecular Screening, 2008). His work has advanced gene-based therapies and small molecule inhibitors for congenital metabolic disorders.