Research

My laboratory is primarily interested in understanding the transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms driving progression of hormone-dependent cancers. We focus on studying the dependence of these cancers on transcription factor-centered, multi-layer transcription regulatory networks composed of transcription factors and pioneer factors (e.g., androgen receptor, FOXA1, GATA2, and HOXB13), transcription coactivators (e.g., Mediator complex), and epigenetic regulators (e.g., nucleosome states). We are also interested in studying the role of host proteases (e.g., Cathepsin L and TMPRSS2) in coronavirus infection. Our recent studies are designed to combine CRISPR/Cas13 RNA-targeting technologies with nanotechnology to target undruggable transcription factors in cancers and host proteases for controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Pioneer factor functions in prostate development and carcinogenesis

 

Cas13d knockdown of lung protease Ctsl prevents and treats SARS-CoV-2 infection