Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary
Genetic and epigenetic regulation of developmentally programmed DNA rearrangements of Tetrahymena, control of intercellular patterning

Key words
chromatin structure, development, DNA, genome rearrangements, RNA interference, cellular patterning, cell biology

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Understanding the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that regulate normal and leukemic stem cells

Key words
Hematopoietic stem cells, Leukemia stem cells, Epigenetic modifications

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
The Chen lab utilizes multi-omic and high-throughput screening approaches to investigate the regulation and function of circRNA and uncover the molecular mechanisms of circRNA-mediated disease.

Key words
Circular RNA, Oxidative Stress, RNA Translation, Cancer Vaccine

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Defining drivers of premalignant states in skin

Key words
epigenetics, aging, cancer, premalignancy, dermatology, melanoma, nevi, squamous cell carcinoma

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Identifying new therapeutic targets of small cell lung cancer

Key words
Lung cancer, DNA damage repair, immunology, drug resistance, genetic screening, translational research, drug development, targeted therapy, precision therapy

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Neurosciences

Research summary
Molecular mechanisms regulating photoreceptor gene expression in healthy and diseased retinas

Key words
Gene expression regulation, transcription factors, epigenetic regulators, photoreceptor development and degeneration, mouse models, gene therapy

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology

Research summary
Understanding the function of neuromodulators and sleep through the spatiotemporal dynamics of molecular signals

Key words
neuromodulator, sleep, dynamics, sensors, actuators, signaling, G protein coupled receptors, imaging, microscopy, learning, plasticity, engineering

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of primary nephrotic syndrome (NS)

Key words

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Cancer Biology
Immunology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary
Cancer stem cells, oncolytic viruses, and functional genomics of brain tumors

Key words
Cancer stem cells, oncolytic viruses, and functional genomics of brain tumors

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Cancer Biology

Research summary
Connexins, cadherins in bone cell interactions with cancer and energy metabolism

Key words
bone biology, cell adhesion, signal transduction, gap junctions, cadherin