An organism's genome encodes all of the biochemical instructions needed to produce a living cell. The transcriptional programs of a cell, however, are dynamic, changing as the cell develops, grows and responds to alterations in the environment. The control of gene expression is not well understood but all living cells require it. Understanding these networks is fundamental for understanding human health and combating disease. Because intrinsic properties of RNA make them ideal for rapid switches that modulate gene expression in response to changes in environment, my lab hypothesizes that novel, functional RNA motifs represent ubiquitous elements in numerous gene networks that allow cells to develop, grow, adapt and survive. The broad goals of my research are to identify and understand, at a molecular level, the many ways by which RNA contributes to normal cell function, and to apply this gathered knowledge to the development of novel tools and potential therapeutics.
