The Calabrese lab at UNC

The lab in May 2023

From left to right: (top) Shuang, Mickey, Rachel, Elizabeth, Mauro; (bottom) Sam, Aki, Quinn, Ryan, Jackson

 

The Calabrese lab seeks to make fundamental discoveries in genomics that unlock innovations in medicine and biotechnology. Our current research focuses on understanding how non-catalytic RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate gene expression inside of the nucleus. For reasons that are not entirely clear, mammalian genomes are pervasively transcribed. However, evidence suggests that prior to export from the nucleus, RNA coordinates a multitude of gene regulatory events that are essential for normal human health and homeostasis. We are working to determine the scope of RNA-mediated gene regulation in mammals, to delineate the relationships between sequence, structure, and function in regulatory RNAs, and to determine the mechanisms that regulatory RNAs employ to control molecular events within the context of the chromatin environment. Given the centrality of gene regulation in human health and disease, we expect our research to lead to discovery of etiologies and therapeutic opportunities in many areas.