Research

We are interested in uncovering functions of long noncoding RNAs in mammalian cells. We are currently specifically focusing on functions during acute cellular responses and in the central nervous system. In addition, we are interested in changes in lncRNA activity in disease, including cancer and neurological diseases.

We are interested in understanding how functionality is encoded in the lncRNA loci. Does it depend on specific sequences? Is secondary structure important? We hypothesize that in many cases the functionality of lncRNAs depends on short domains, and would like to understand how to identify those domains and how they operate in the context of much longer RNAs.

We are interested in understanding how noncoding parts of our genome, and in particular those transcribed into RNAs are evolving. Comparative genomics can instruct us on which lncRNAs are important, which regions within them are functional, and hint at the potential lncRNA mechanism of action.

We are interested in understanding what happens to long RNAs (mRNAs and lncRNAs) once they are transcribed and how this fate is determined by their sequences, RNA structures, gene architectures, and the loci they were transcribed. Why do some RNAs stay on chromatin, others linger in the nucleus and others exit to the cytosol within minutes? Once in the cytosol, what determines RNA stability? We're also interested in what happens to exogenous therapeutic RNAs delivered to cells in lipid nanoparticles and how their fate can be engineered to develop potent and versetile RNA therapeutics.