Research

Biochemistry, biology, and biotechnology of eukaryotic retroelements and their reverse transcriptases

After 25 years of field-leading research in our studies of telomerase, non-coding RNAs, endogenous RNA silencing, & RNA and RNP biogenesis, the Collins lab has switched passions to explore new uncharted realms: eukaryotic retroelements, non-LTR retroelement reverse transcriptases and RNPs, and use of engineered reverse transcriptases for barrier-busting RNA sequencing and gene therapy technologies. Funded by an NIH Director's Pioneer Award, we seek to understand the unique principles of eukaryotic non-LTR retroelement biochemistry and biology spanning from exquisitely selective protein-nucleic acid binding specificities to retroelement mobility, regulation, and evolution. We are using our insights to engineer new methods for safe, versatile, site-specific transgene addition to the human genome.