Our long-term goal is to study fundamental mechanisms of gene expression processes in relation to human diseases and utilize this work to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Particularly we want to understand how alterations in RNA homeostasis may contribute to human diseases, which include but are not limited to neurodegenerative disorders. We are also interested in the basic mechanism of translational regulation, particularly focusing on the non-canonical translations. 

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Repeat Expansion Disorders

I. Develop/utilize cutting-edge techniques to detect RNA-protein interactions. Define the subcellular and context-specific repeat RNA-protein interactome. Characterize the roles of disease associated RBPs in fly and neuronal models of repeat expansion disorders 

II. Develop/utilize chemical, mutational, and sequencing-based techniques for the analysis of multiple disease-associated repeat RNA structures. Determine how RNA structure/ folding may contribute to translational regulations. Use the RNA structural information to develop/screen for chemical inhibitors of repeat RNA associated toxicity

III. We are interested in employing novel molecular chaperones (such as serine-rich chaperone protein 1 or, SRCP1 from Dictyostelium discoideum) to directly counter toxic aggregation-prone repeat peptides produced through translation of repeat RNAs