Background

RNA methylation in eukaryotic messenger RNAs and noncoding RNAs represents a critical regulatory layer that expands the complexity of gene regulation beyond the DNA sequence. These RNA modifications influence RNA stability, processing, localization, and translation, and are increasingly recognized as key modulators of transcriptional output and higher-order genome organization. Through these mechanisms, RNA methylation contributes to the establishment and maintenance of cell type–specific gene expression programs that underlie normal development and tissue homeostasis.
Accumulating evidence indicates that dysregulation of RNA methylation–dependent regulatory pathways disrupts transcriptional control and genome architecture, leading to aberrant cellular states. Such alterations have been strongly linked to developmental defects and a wide range of human diseases, particularly cancer, where altered RNA methylation signaling can promote tumor initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy.

Our Research Team

Our laboratory is focused on understanding how the epigenome and epitranscriptome coordinate to regulate context-specific transcriptional programs and genome architecture. We aim to define the molecular mechanisms by which these regulatory layers shape transcriptional states in both normal and disease contexts.
A central goal of our research is to elucidate how perturbations in epigenomic and epitranscriptomic regulation drive tumor development and progression. By integrating mechanistic studies with disease-relevant models, we seek to uncover fundamental principles of transcriptional regulation and to identify novel vulnerabilities that can be exploited for cancer therapy.