Our lab studies how RNA structure shapes gene expression in living cells, both in normal biology and in disease. We ask how RNAs fold in cellular environments, how those structures guide interactions with proteins, enzymes, drugs, and other ligands, and how these interactions ultimately influence gene regulation. By combining chemical biology, biophysics, and sequencing-based approaches, we aim to uncover the fundamental rules that connect RNA structure to function.

We are motivated both by foundational questions in RNA chemical biology and by the opportunity to apply those insights to important challenges in cancer and antibiotic discovery. By understanding how RNA structure governs molecular recognition and regulation, we hope to enable new ways to predict, modulate, and ultimately target RNA in disease.