Gene Regulation and Inheritance
The Gene Regulation and Inheritance Program focuses on revealing basic mechanisms governing the regulation of gene expression and cell inheritance at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels, and on discovering how these mechanisms are perturbed to influence the initiation and/or progression of cancer. A major strength of the Program is the innovative science that is yielding novel insights into non-coding RNA species, RNA splicing, chromatin biology, and cell-cycle control. Alterations in these processes are critical features of the transformed phenotype. Although fundamental research is the central to this Program, many discoveries are being translated toward the clinic, due in part to the strong strategic alliance with clinical partners.
Program Co-leaders
Adrian Krainer, Ph.D.
Justin Kinney, Ph.D.
Members of the Gene Regulation and Inheritance Program share an interest in uncovering the mechanisms governing inheritance of cell state as well as mechanisms of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, and on understanding how those mechanisms are altered in cancer cells. The Program has three main focus areas: (1) elucidating fundamental mechanisms governing the regulation of non-coding RNAs, transcription, and cell inheritance; (2) determining how transcriptional and post-transcriptional control are dysregulated in cancer; and (3) developing therapeutic agents and biological systems to target pro-tumorigenic alterations in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators. The Program also has expertise in computational analysis of gene expression patterns, mRNA splicing, and mutation identification which is being used to uncover alterations that drive aberrant gene regulation and impact all three focus areas. Program members combine cell, molecular biology, biochemical, structural biology, computational, and genetic approaches. The Program is enhanced by the excellent Cancer Center Shared Resources, especially the Animal, Sequencing Technologies & Analysis, Flow Cytometry, Microscopy, and Mass Spectrometry Shared Resources.
At the Lab Season 1 Research Rewind: AI+
October 29, 2024
This season鈥檚 final Research Rewind brings us from the realm of quantitative biology to neuroscience, genomics, and beyond.
At the Lab Season 1 Research Rewind: Genetics
October 22, 2024
It鈥檚 the code for all life on Earth. This week At the Lab, we鈥檙e hacking it with the help of 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 geneticists.
Adrian Krainer wins Albany Prize for biomedical research
October 8, 2024
A pioneer in the burgeoning field of RNA therapeutics, Krainer has now received America鈥檚 second-highest prize in medicine.
At the Lab Season 1 Research Rewind: Cancer
October 8, 2024
As the first season of our new podcast winds down, we鈥檙e revisiting all of our episodes with a focus on 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 cutting-edge cancer research.
Plants have a backup plan
October 3, 2024
麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Rob Martienssen and his team discovered how plants like Arabidopsis continue to reproduce even when things go wrong in chromosome division.
At the Lab Episode 25: How maize became corn
September 24, 2024
Laboratorysolves a plant biology mystery some 4,000 years in the making. The implications may go far beyond vegetables.
Laboratorygrad student wins International Birnstiel Award
September 23, 2024
Shushan Toneyan won the award for her thesis research in 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Koo lab. Toneyan is the co-creator of CREME, an AI-powered virtual laboratory.
At the Lab Episode 24: Putting the brakes on brain cancer
September 17, 2024
LaboratoryProfessor Alea Mills compares the deadly brain cancer glioblastoma to a car with its brakes cut. Her lab works to reattach them.
Is CREME AI鈥檚 answer to CRISPR?
September 16, 2024
CREME, the latest AI toolkit from 麻豆传媒社区, is a virtual laboratory that may help scientists find new therapeutic targets in the genome.
At the Lab Episode 22: Outmuscling cancer
September 3, 2024
After 10 years, Laboratoryhas made a breakthrough in the study of RMS, a rare pediatric cancer. How we got here is a story of innovation and perseverance.
Corn鈥檚 鈥榤issing link鈥
August 7, 2024
Laboratoryresearchers have discovered a biological mechanism that may explain how corn spread so rapidly across the Americas 4,000 years ago.
At the Lab Episode 17: AI SQUID
July 30, 2024
Tune in to this week鈥檚 podcast to hear about the latest artificial intelligence model coming out of 麻豆传媒社区.
At the Lab Episode 13: A more sustainable chemistry
July 2, 2024
For this week鈥檚 podcast, LaboratoryProfessor John Moses bridges the gap between chemistry and biology in less than three minutes.
Table for 32
June 26, 2024
Laboratorywas excited to partner with Boy Scouts Troop 32 to help a young community member interested in science complete his Eagle Scout project.
SQUID pries open AI black box
June 21, 2024
麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Koo and Kinney labs have built a tool to suss out how AI analyzes the genome. What sets it apart? Decades of quantitative genetics knowledge.
Pancreatic cancer鈥檚 cellular amnesia
June 17, 2024
New study from LaboratoryProfessor Christopher Vakoc and former postdoc Diogo Maia-Silva shows how basal-like cancer cells lose their original identity.
Barbara McClintock鈥檚 corn
June 16, 2024
You鈥檝e heard about Barbara McClintock鈥檚 Nobel Prize-winning research on corn genetics, but what about the corn itself?
Wrexham University awards John Moses Honorary Fellowship
June 13, 2024
LaboratoryProfessor John Moses returned to his hometown of Wrexham, Wales, where he was recognized for his contributions to science.
RNA splicing鈥檚 spotters
June 10, 2024
RNA therapeutics pioneer LaboratoryProfessor Adrian Krainer has discovered a link between two important regulator proteins, SRSF1 and DDX23.
At the Lab Episode 10: The time of our lives
June 4, 2024
鈥淵ou wouldn鈥檛 start making the fingernails on an arm until you had started to make the arm,鈥 says 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Christopher Hammell. How鈥檚 that for a visual?
President鈥檚 essay: The continuous cycle of discovery
May 30, 2024
LaboratoryPresident & CEO Bruce Stillman discusses our institution鈥檚 societal impacts and global connections as forces for further scientific progress.
The LaboratorySchool of Biological Sciences鈥 class of 2024
May 5, 2024
The School of Biological Sciences awarded Ph.D. degrees to 11 students this year. Here are some stories and reflections from their time at 麻豆传媒社区.
Hazen Tower
April 25, 2024
The Italian-style bell tower anchors 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Neuroscience Center. Its bell has rung out every hour on the hour, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., since 1991.
Nobel laureate honored at Laboratorychemistry symposium
April 15, 2024
鈥淭he Future of Click Chemistry鈥 brought together two-time Nobelist K. Barry Sharpless with his former apprentices John Moses and David Tuveson.
Up close and personal with cryo-EM
April 11, 2024
麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Cryo-Electron Microscopy course teaches the next generation of scientists to study life at the atomic level.
Click, click, boom鈥150 new molecules
April 4, 2024
LaboratoryProfessor John Moses premieres an expansive line of new click chemistry products, uncovering leads for better antibiotics and cancer drugs.
麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Thomas Gingeras awarded $2 million NSF grant
April 3, 2024
Climate change threatens crops with acidic soils and aluminum toxicity. Gingeras leads an international team tackling this problem head-on.
From plant genomics to a bioscience revolution
March 25, 2024
Laboratoryplayed a lead role in mapping the first plant genome. Today, that breakthrough fuels a whole new understanding of life on Earth.
Cocktails & Chromosomes: Molecules to change the world
March 14, 2024
What is 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 John Moses doing with that glowing liquid? Watch our expert chemist get a reaction from the crowd at Industry bar in Huntington, NY.
Why some RNA drugs work better than others
March 6, 2024
麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Justin Kinney and Spinraza inventor Adrian Krainer tested the newly approved SMA treatment, risdiplam, and another RNA therapeutic, branaplam.
Can AI uncover breast cancer risk factors?
February 26, 2024
This question lies at the heart of a new interdisciplinary collaboration between 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Camila dos Santos and Peter Koo.
How diet may impact cancer and possible treatments
February 1, 2024
Researchers at the LaboratoryCancer Center study the links between disease and nutrition in hopes of uncovering new treatment and prevention strategies.
A quiz for the ages
January 29, 2024
Want to know the secret to a long life? So do Laboratoryscientists. Take this short quiz to see what they鈥檝e found out about aging and longevity.
Joshua-Tor named LaboratoryDirector of Research
January 2, 2024
The Laboratoryprofessor and HHMI investigator steps into her new role effective January 2, 2024.
Dream big: A powerful vision for Laboratoryresearch
January 2, 2024
New LaboratoryDirector of Research Leemor Joshua-Tor shares her vision for the future of bioscience discovery.
Laboratorycelebrates 50th anniversary of McClintock Laboratory
November 20, 2023
Fifty years ago, Laboratoryhonored Barbara McClintock by dedicating a building in her name. Today, it is home to four innovative cancer labs.
Breaking new ground: For science and society
November 13, 2023
麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Foundations for the Future campaign will propel the institution鈥檚 bioscience research and education programs to new heights and maximal impact.
Rob Martienssen awarded 2024 Genetics Society Medal
November 8, 2023
LaboratoryProfessor Rob Martienssen earned the award for outstanding research contributions to the field of genetics.
First look: Whole-body gene expression
November 6, 2023
For the first time, scientists at Laboratoryhave observed gene expression as it occurs throughout an animal. See life take shape in front of your eyes.
22nd Annual Women鈥檚 Partnership for Science Breaks Records
October 19, 2023
Laboratoryheld its 22nd Annual Women鈥檚 Partnership for Science聽lecture and luncheon.
Test your breast cancer awareness
October 18, 2023
Awareness is key to prevention and potential future treatments. Take this quiz to find out about the latest in breast cancer research at 麻豆传媒社区.
The dance of epigenetic inheritance
September 27, 2023
Making sure chromosomes get passed down correctly is hard work. Watch, through fluorescent and cryogenic lenses, how two proteins make it happen.
Stillman earns ASBMB Distinguished Scientist Award
September 7, 2023
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology honored LaboratoryPresident & CEO Bruce Stillman for outstanding achievement in basic research.
These worms have rhythm
September 5, 2023
Observing gene expression in real time, Laboratoryscientists identified four molecules the C. elegans worm relies on to set the tempo of its development.
How plants pass down genetic memories
August 28, 2023
Thirty years ago, 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Rob Martienssen discovered plant gene DDM1. Now, he鈥檚 identified just how the DDM1 protein helps control inheritance.
The ancient viruses in human DNA
August 24, 2023
LaboratoryAssistant Professor Andrea Schorn takes us into her lab for a behind-the-scenes look at the parts of our genome that aren鈥檛 quite human.
Where did our DNA come from?
August 22, 2023
Half the human genome isn鈥檛 quite human. 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 Andrea Schorn gives us the inside scoop on how our DNA turned ancient viruses into essential allies.
Laboratorymakes a splash with Swim Across America
August 21, 2023
Since 1987, the charity swim has raised over $100 million for cancer research. Here, LaboratoryAssistant Professor Semir Beyaz voices his support.
Blending history and science
August 17, 2023
One of the most famous experiments conducted at Laboratoryrelied on the same state-of-the-art equipment found in kitchens across the U.S. in 1952鈥攁 Waring blender.
Laying the groundwork for drug discoveries
August 8, 2023
A new partnership between Laboratoryand one of the world鈥檚 leading biotech investors could streamline this process and help change society for the better.
Eight serving one: Laboratoryvolleyball mid-season report
August 2, 2023
麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 32nd Volleyball League season sees eight teams battling for the coveted Tiernan Cup and a year鈥檚 worth of bragging rights.
Bite into this diet and disease quiz
July 5, 2023
Test your knowledge of how diet and nutrition affect health and disease with this short quiz.
Adrian Krainer awarded honorary IADR membership
June 21, 2023
Krainer was recognized for his pioneering research on spinal muscular atrophy and RNA therapeutics.
Lingbo Zhang wins National Institutes of Health MERIT Award
June 15, 2023
The highly prestigious award will support Zhang鈥檚 research on the role of nutrients and other environmental factors in blood cancer development.
Laboratoryharnesses biology鈥檚 favorite chemical
June 7, 2023
Life on Earth depends on phosphorus to give DNA structure. Soon, biology鈥檚 chosen chemical could make for new cancer treatments and green materials.
The digital dark matter clouding AI
June 5, 2023
Scientists have unknowingly encountered mysterious noise while using AI to decipher our genetic code. Laboratoryhas found a way to cut through the fog.
Summer 2023 Harbor Transcript now online
May 31, 2023
This Special Annual Report edition of 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 magazine provides a look back at some of the Laboratory鈥檚 biggest stories from 2022.
President鈥檚 essay: Bringing bold visions to life
May 26, 2023
LaboratoryPresident & CEO Bruce Stillman sees the Laboratory as a global hub for scientific expertise and a powerful launchpad for early-career scientists.
The evolution of autism research
May 25, 2023
The conversation around autism has evolved over the past two decades. So has Laboratoryresearch. This retrospective shows how we鈥檝e helped move the needle.
Laboratorycelebrates 20th graduating class
May 9, 2023
Friends, family, and faculty applauded 11 Ph.D. recipients at the LaboratorySchool of Biological Sciences鈥 2023 commencement.
The LaboratorySchool of Biological Sciences鈥 class of 2023
May 7, 2023
The School of Biological Sciences awarded 11 Ph.D. degrees this year. Here, the graduates reflect on their time and experiences at 麻豆传媒社区.
AI training: A backward cat pic is still a cat pic
May 4, 2023
This basic rule of thumb is helping 麻豆传媒社区鈥檚 quantitative biologists train AI to get a better read of the human genome.
This killer protein causes pancreatic cancer
April 26, 2023
Laboratoryresearchers have found that high levels of a protein called SRSF1 can cause pancreatitis and jumpstart tumor development.
Krainer named Society for RNA Therapeutics board member
April 18, 2023
He helped pioneer the field. It changed medicine. Now, he joins a group of renowned scientists and physicians aiming to take it to the next level.
From tragedy, a potential pediatric cancer treatment
April 12, 2023
LaboratoryProfessor Adrian Krainer, the man behind the 鈥渕iracle drug鈥 known as Spinraza庐, has found a way to fight a deadly pediatric brain cancer in mice.
New shape-shifting antibiotics could fight deadly infections
April 4, 2023
Laboratoryresearchers have created a powerful new molecule that combats antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
A new, sustainable source for a promising cancer killer
March 23, 2023
This Malaysian jungle plant produces a chemical with remarkable anticancer properties. Now, Laboratoryscientists can synthesize that chemical in the lab.
A molecular machine鈥檚 secret weapon exposed
February 23, 2023
A shape-shifter with a protruding arm and an appetite for unwanted RNA! Laboratorybiochemists identify the hidden talents of a mysterious molecule.
Can you outsmart this AI quiz?
February 6, 2023
Think you鈥檙e plugged into the latest artificial intelligence advancements? Test your tech knowledge with this quiz on AI and computational biology.
PFF student named Regeneron scholar
January 30, 2023
LaboratoryPartners for the Future student Sean Krivitsky is a semifinalist in one the nation's most prestigious high school science competitions.
Cracking the mystery behind a deadly brain cancer
December 21, 2022
Scientists solve the mystery of how glioblastoma turns off cancer defenses without the usual cancer-inducing mutations.
Laboratorybreaks ground on new Neuroscience Research Complex
December 20, 2022
New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado announced a $30 million investment to help fund the new construction project.
The tiny plant tackling climate change
December 8, 2022
The humble aquatic duckweed plant has enormous potential as a new source of healthy protein, low-carbon biofuels, and other bioproducts.
Finding the right AI for you
December 5, 2022
AI鈥檚 popularity has reached a point where there are too many options. How do you know which AI is right for you? Laboratoryscientists have a solution.
Cancer lab makes surprise discoveries in heart disease
November 30, 2022
Two separate studies from the Spector lab at Laboratorysuggest that certain genes can lead to cardiac problems.
Welcome to Biology + Beyond
November 14, 2022
LaboratoryPresident and CEO Bruce Stillman introduces a special issue of Nautilus magazine now online, featuring the Lab鈥檚 latest groundbreaking research
A universal cancer treatment?
October 13, 2022
A medicine that disrupts the DNA replication of cancer cells may be within reach.
Laboratoryhigh schoolers finish top 10 in 2022 DREAM Challenge
October 7, 2022
The high school team competed against universities and private labs to build a computer program for predicting gene expression in yeast.
A new treatment approach for cystic fibrosis
July 14, 2022
Molecules called antisense oligonucleotides may help lung cells make a protein missing in people with cystic fibrosis.
The promising drug duo that may improve SMA treatment
July 11, 2022
Pairing Spinraza庐 with a second FDA-approved drug may be a new way to improve the drug鈥檚 therapeutic effects in spinal muscular atrophy patients.
Bruce Stillman honored with Excellence in Healthcare Award
June 27, 2022
The Long Island Herald recognized LaboratoryPresident and CEO Bruce Stillman for his leadership and impact in the biomedical field.
Krainer awarded Watanabe Prize in Translational Research
June 16, 2022
Indiana University School of Medicine honored Krainer for his pioneering work on RNA splicing, which led to the first FDA-approved SMA therapeutic.
Decoding how a protein on the move keeps cells healthy
May 31, 2022
The Argonaute protein is a workhorse for cell regulation and Laboratoryresearchers discovered what helps it commute from job to job.
President鈥檚 essay: Foundations for the future
May 25, 2022
Strategically designed to spark scientific exchange and inspiration, Laboratoryis a unique research and education environment for advancing science.
LaboratoryHelix Society member honors late wife
May 24, 2022
Helix Society member John Broven recently visited Laboratoryto view a newly installed plaque placed in memory of his late wife.
Laboratory19th graduating class celebrated
May 2, 2022
In May 2022, the LaboratorySchool of Biological Sciences awarded 10 Doctor of Philosophy degrees and two honorary degrees.
Laboratory2022 Ph.D.’s
May 1, 2022
The School of Biological Sciences awarded Ph.D. degrees to ten students this year. Here are some stories and memories from their time at 麻豆传媒社区.
Martienssen elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
April 28, 2022
LaboratoryProfessor and HHMI Investigator Rob Martienssen joins the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Laboratoryin pursuit of shape-shifting antibiotics
April 25, 2022
LaboratoryProfessor John E. Moses was awarded over $325,000 from the New York State Biodefense Commercialization Fund to study a new type of antibiotic.
Can cancer be treated by changing its cells?
April 11, 2022
Tumors grow when cells lose their biological identity. A promising therapeutic might restore their sense of self.
Do you have the dirt on plant research?
March 31, 2022
New research is constantly sprouting. Take this quiz and test your plant knowledge.
Paving a path to triple-negative breast cancer treatment
March 29, 2022
Researchers collected a biobank of triple-negative breast cancer mini-tissues to search for new and potentially patient-specific treatments.
Regeneron competition honors Laboratoryhigh school researchers
March 22, 2022
Three high school student researchers at Laboratorywere among Regeneron Science Talent Search鈥檚 top 300 scholars. One made it to the final competition.
Stabilizing chromosomes to tackle tumors
March 17, 2022
Dicer and its partner BRD4 stabilize chromosomes. Targeting this pair could provide new therapeutic opportunities against cancer.
Tools of the trade at 麻豆传媒社区: Robotic microwave
February 24, 2022
This robotic assistant gives chemists a hand in the lab.
Cutting off liver cancer鈥檚 nutrient supply chain
February 3, 2022
Laboratoryresearchers developed a way to interfere with the energy pathway that allows liver cancer to grow and spread.
Editing RNA to fix protein problems in cystic fibrosis
January 27, 2022
Laboratoryresearchers found a new way to address a previously untreatable class of mutations in the cystic fibrosis gene.
The Darlene Carbone Brain Tumor Foundation donates $25,000 to 麻豆传媒社区
January 24, 2022
The Darlene Carbone Brain Tumor Foundation donates $25,000 to Dr. Alea Mills lab for glioblastoma research.
Lab meets clinic: Building on foundational research
December 15, 2021
The future depends on investments in scientific advancement, including expanding the Laboratory鈥檚 research visions and shoring up its infrastructure.
Teaching an old chemical new tricks
December 6, 2021
Using a chemical from the 1980s, LaboratoryProfessor John E. Moses鈥 team has found a way to create new molecules in minutes.
Alexander Dobin
Next generation sequencing technologies revolutionized many areas of genetics and molecular biology, enabling quantitative analyses of the entire genomes and paving the way for Personalized Medicine. We develop novel statistical methods and computational algorithms for multi-omics processing and integration, and leverage Big Genomic Data to elucidate various problems in precision health, such as genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of cancer development and progression, and clinical impact of functional variants.
Thomas Gingeras
Only a small portion of the RNAs encoded in any genome are used to make proteins. My lab investigates what these noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) do within and outside of cells, where regulators of their expression are located in the genome. This is particularly important in cancer. Our laboratory works on endometrial cancer and its relationship to age and obesity.
Christopher Hammell
As organisms develop, genes turn on and off with a precise order and timing, much like the order and duration of notes in a song. My group uses model organisms to understand the molecules that control the tempo of development. We also study how changes in the timing of gene expression contribute to diseases like cancer.
Leemor Joshua-Tor
Our cells depend on thousands of proteins and nucleic acids that function as tiny machines: molecules that build, fold, cut, destroy, and transport all of the molecules essential for life. My group is discovering how these molecular machines work, looking at interactions between individual atoms to understand how they activate gene expression, DNA replication, and small RNA biology.
Justin Kinney
Research in the Kinney Lab combines mathematical theory, machine learning, and experiments in an effort to illuminate how cells control their genes. These efforts are advancing the fundamental understanding of biology and biophysics, as well as accelerating the discovery of new treatments for cancer and other diseases.
Peter Koo
Deep learning has the potential to make a significant impact in basic biology and cancer, but a major challenge is understanding the reasons behind their predictions. My research develops methods to interpret this powerful class of black box models, with a goal of elucidating data-driven insights into the underlying mechanisms of sequence-function relationships.
Adrian R. Krainer
Our DNA carries the instructions to manufacture all the molecules needed by a cell. After each gene is copied from DNA into RNA, the RNA message is "spliced" - an editing process involving precise cutting and pasting. I am interested in how splicing normally works, how it is altered in genetic diseases and cancer, and how we can correct these defects for therapy.
Rob Martienssen
Chromosomes are covered with chemical modifications that help control gene expression. I study this secondary genetic code - the epigenome - and how it is guided by small mobile RNAs in plants and fission yeast. Our discoveries impact plant breeding and human health, and we use this and other genomic information to improve aquatic plants as a source of bioenergy.
David McCandlish
Some mutations are harmful but others are benign. How can we predict the effects of mutations, both singly and in combination? Using data from experiments that simultaneously measure the effects of thousands of mutations, I develop computational tools to predict the functional impact of mutations and apply these tools to problems in protein design, molecular evolution, and cancer.
Alea A. Mills
Cells employ stringent controls to ensure that genes are turned on and off at the correct time and place. Accurate gene expression relies on several levels of regulation, including how DNA and its associated molecules are packed together. I study the diseases arising from defects in these control systems, such as aging and cancer.
Lopa Mishra
My research focuses on the continuum of science-driven clinical care by working on novel therapies and improved clinical outcomes, honing liver disease, metabolism/alcohol, obesity/addiction gastrointestinal cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, and neural regulation of disease and cancer, which links to the field of bioelectronic medicine.
Andrea Schorn
Transposable elements make up half of our DNA. They control gene expression and have been a major evolutionary force in all organisms. The Schorn lab investigates how small RNAs identify and silence transposable elements when they become active during development and disease.
David L. Spector
The immense amount of DNA, RNA and proteins that contribute to our genetic programs are precisely organized inside the cell's nucleus. My group studies how nuclear organization impacts gene regulation, and how misregulation of non-coding RNAs contributes to human diseases such as cancer.
Bruce Stillman
Every time a cell divides, it must accurately copy its DNA. With 3 billion 鈥渓etters鈥 in the human genome, this is no small task. My studies reveal the many steps and molecular actors involved, as well as how errors in DNA replication are involved in diseases that range from cancer to rare genetic disorders.