Investigating the impact of RNA structural dynamics on function of the lncRNA FIRRE

My five-year goal is for my lab to be recognized as world experts in connecting long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) structural dynamics and function. LncRNAs are a class of RNAs that regulate a wide repertoire of biological processes. Of interest to us are the mechanisms by which they are spliced and their ability to fold into conformationally dynamic structures. We are working to identify, on a structural level, how lncRNA splicing is regulated, and when mature transcripts are produced, how they sample dynamically structured states are directly related to biological function. By bridging these areas, we can address knowledge gaps in processes such as lncRNA-driven gene-silencing, and expand potential disease targets to include lncRNAs. To accomplish this goal, I am bringing together a team of researchers with expertise in chemistry, structural and molecular biology, and computational chemistry. These researchers include high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees, as well as collaborators from other institutes. Involving expertise from various skill levels creates a stimulating environment that enables trainees to formulate creative ideas together to tackle challenging projects. Furthermore, as a mentor, I am working to build an environment in which each of my students knows that their perspectives and ideas are valued. I plan to continue to build my summer program, LiNC, in which I introduce high school students to lncRNA structural biology. These students work alongside graduate students to carry out experiments to study the structural mechanisms that underlie lncRNA function, preparing them with the skills necessary to join undergraduate STEM labs upon entering college. My long-term goal is to therapeutically target multifunctional lncRNAs that are implicated in disease. However, to accomplish this, we must first establish a thorough understanding of the molecular and structural mechanisms by which they function. This is a feasible goal for the next five years.