"Shedding Light on Neurons: A Conversation with Shixin Ye-Lehmann, Pioneer of Tomorrow’s Medicine"

Introduction

Professor Shixin Ye-Lehmann, based in France, is conducting research at the intersection of reality and the future: light-sensitive proteins, targeted therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, artificial intelligence for health... Born in Beijing and trained in the U.S., she now collaborates with scientists worldwide and reflects on the global impact of science, including in Africa. Meet a woman who sheds light on the mysteries of life.

I. Science, Light, and Neurons

1. Your research on light-sensitive proteins and ion channels uses very technical terms. How would you explain your work to a curious 14-year-old African student?

Imagine how plants use light to grow through photosynthesis. Animals and humans also use light, but in a different way: we can see, move, and react to changes around us. The big difference between plants and humans is that we can move and sense the world actively, and that ability depends on special molecules in our body called proteins. Among these, light-sensitive proteins act like tiny switches that respond to light, and ion channels are like tiny gates in our cells that let electric signals flow. These signals help our brains think, our hearts beat, and our bodies move. My work tries to understand and improve these tiny switches and gates, so we can help people with damaged brains, eyes, or nerves see, feel, or move again.

2. How could your discoveries change the treatment of diseases like Alzheimer’s or  chronic pain?

Our research starts from studying the basic problems inside cells, like how proteins fold the wrong way or how signals break down. Think of it like fixing the wiring in a house: if you can find the broken parts early, you can stop bigger problems later. In Alzheimer’s disease, for example, we are looking for very early warning signs before symptoms appear. By understanding the earliest changes in brain cells and the light-sensitive proteins that can show these changes, we hope to find ways to diagnose and treat the disease sooner. For chronic pain, we study how nerve cells send wrong signals. Using light-sensitive proteins and special tools, we can try to block or correct these signals, giving new hope for pain treatments without dangerous drugs.

3. Artificial  intelligence plays a growing role in your work. Is science becoming  smarter than we are?

In some areas, such as analyzing data or detecting patterns in massive datasets, artificial intelligence is incredibly fast and powerful. But when it comes to generating new ideas, asking the right questions, or synthesizing complex, interdisciplinary knowledge, humans are still ahead. During my career, I have seen AI become an indispensable tool that extends our thinking, helping us work faster and uncover insights we might miss alone. But it does not replace human curiosity and creativity. In my view, science is not becoming smarter than us rather, AI is helping us reflect on our own processes and understand the world in new, profound ways.

II. A Global Scientist

1. Born in  China, trained in the U.S., now a professor in France , what has your international journey taught you?

Born in China, trained in the U.S., and now a professor in France, my international journey has taught me that scientific excellence takes many forms. I completed my undergraduate studies in chemistry at Peking University in China, and after graduation moved to the U.S. for my doctoral and postdoctoral work. In the U.S., I learned to think boldly and embrace risk-taking in research, supported by substantial resources and a global community of brilliant minds. In France, I have found a culture that values deep reflection, systematic inquiry, and an enduring respect for knowledge, alongside strong support for international collaboration. Meanwhile, China's rapid development over the past two decades, especially in biomedical and life sciences, has also been inspiring. This mix of freedom, rigor, and cooperation across cultures has shaped how I approach science today.

2. As president of the Sino-French Medical Society, how do you view cross-cultural scientific exchange?

Cross-cultural scientific exchange is indispensable for innovation. As president of the Sino-French Medical Society, I see how collaboration across cultures brings fresh perspectives, sparks creativity, and builds mutual understanding. During my time in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, my advisor J. Kent Blasie strongly encouraged interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration, particularly combining physics, synthetic chemistry, and medicine. Later, during my postdoctoral work at Rockefeller University, my advisor Thomas P. Sakmar also championed integrating physics and chemical biology in novel ways. But such exchange demands patience, persistence, and a willingness to navigate differences in language, bureaucracy, and research culture. The rewards, however, are immense, often leading to breakthroughs that would not happen in isolation.

3. Do you see Africa as an emerging player in science? What opportunities or challenges do you observe?

My father worked on engineering projects in Kenya for about 2-3 years while I was in high school, bringing back photos and slides of Africa’s wildlife and savannahs that sparked my early fascination with the continent. Africa is now an emerging force in science, especially in fields like biodiversity, infectious disease, and public health. Its vast natural resources, young and dynamic population, and unique ecosystems offer incredible opportunities for discoveries that can benefit the world. Yet significant challenges remain, including limited funding, infrastructure gaps, and the need to train more scientists locally. Addressing these issues will require sustained investment, capacity building, and equitable global partnerships that truly respect African leadership and priorities.

III. Women, Family, and the Future

1. As a  mother of two boys, how do you balance high-level research with family life?

Balancing high-level research with family life is incredibly difficult. There is often guilt, especially because I travel frequently and sometimes feel I am not giving enough attention to my children. But I am fortunate to have a supportive husband who is also a scientist, with deep insights into the origins of the genetic code. His love and unwavering support help me and the children thrive despite the challenges.

2. In the  labs you lead, do you promote a collaborative or gender-aware approach to  science?

In my labs, I emphasize international collaboration, working with partners in France, the U.S., UK, Germany, Australia, China and beyond. As a woman in science, I am particularly aware of gender dynamics. My group is balanced, with roughly equal numbers of women and men. I understand both the unique strengths and challenges women often bring to science, and I strive to create an environment where everyone can contribute and grow.

3. What  advice would you give to a young African girl who dreams of becoming a scientist?

My advice to a young African girl who dreams of becoming a scientist is to nurture a deep love for exploring the unknown. Women, more often than men, are taught to fear uncertainty. Embrace it instead. Science is about curiosity and courage. Seek mentors, build your skills, and never doubt that your questions are valuable and your voice deserves to be heard.

IV. Ethics, Hope, and Exploration

1. Working with light to control neurons sounds like science fiction. Does research  risk crossing ethical lines?

My current research using light to control neurons is focused entirely on cellular and animal models, far from any human application. We adhere strictly to ethical standards and believe that any step toward human research must be grounded in extensive safety studies, transparent discussion with the public, and robust ethical oversight. The line between scientific innovation and ethical responsibility is one we must protect carefully.

2. You often speak about “interdisciplinary” science. Why is this approach essential to the future of medicine?

Interdisciplinary science is essential to the future of medicine because modern healthcare challenges are too complex for any single discipline to solve alone. Medicine requires the integration of biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, data science, and artificial intelligence. This convergence brings fresh perspectives, new tools, and solutions that would otherwise be impossible, accelerating breakthroughs and transforming patient care.

3. If you could lead a research project in an African country, which would you choose and why?

If I could lead a research project in Africa, I would focus on applying optogenetic and light-sensitive protein technologies to the early diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in aging populations. Africa is experiencing demographic shifts, with unique social and biological factors that could reveal new mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies. Studying these differences not only benefits African communities but also enriches global scientific understanding of aging and neurodegeneration.

What is  “optoproteomics”?

Optoproteomics is a concept first introduced by my team and published in 2017. It represents a new branch of optogenetics, defined as using light-sensitive amino acids to transform non-luminescent proteins into light-emitting ones. This is distinct from traditional methods relying on natural photoproteins to genetically modify cells. Optoproteomics offers a powerful way to precisely track and manipulate protein behaviors using light, providing new insights into dynamic cellular processes and molecular interactions that were previously difficult to study.

International Collaborations 国际合作

Professor Shixin Ye-Lehmann leads and participates in multiple international collaborations across cutting-edge fields such as genetic code expansion, optoproteomics, bioorthogonal labeling, and neuroscience. Her global network spans four continents and brings together expertise in chemistry, biology, structural modeling, and translational medicine.

Key Collaborators:

• Thomas P. Sakmar
  Laboratory of Signaling and Chemical Biology, New York, USA
  Signaling pathways and membrane protein biology.

• Lei Wang
  University of California, San Francisco, USA
  Pioneer in genetic code expansion and synthetic biology.

• Jeff Holst
  University of Sydney, Australia
  Research on prostate cancer and amino acid transporters.

• Péter Kele
  Institute of Organic Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary
  Expert in bioorthogonal fluorescent labeling using unnatural amino acids (UAAs).

• Shigeyuki Yokoyama
  RIKEN Structural Biology Center, Yokohama, Japan
  Structural biology and protein design.

• Tatsuo Shibata
  RIKEN, Japan
  Kinetic modeling of protein synthesis within genetic code expansion systems.

• Min-Xin Guan (关敏欣)
  Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
  Renowned for work on mitochondrial genetics and hereditary diseases.

• Dali Li (李大力)
  East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
  Rodent genome editing and preclinical gene therapy.

• Hang Shi (石航)
  Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
  Production of recombinant proteins and protein engineering.

• Rajkumar Halder
  Ruhvenile Biomedical Inc., New Delhi, India
  Development of optoproteomics and light-responsive amino acid tools.

Inspiring  quote: “I didn’t just want to understand life, I wanted to illuminate it.”