Greater than 90% of the human genome is transcribed, yet the functional role for most transcripts is unknown. Many of these unknown transcripts fall into a class of RNAs referred to as non-coding RNAs. The goal of the Kasinski Lab is to determine the molecular contribution of non-coding RNAs (microRNAs, lncRNA, circRNAs), to elucidate how these RNAs work to regulate each other in normal and disease cells, and to capitalize on this knowledge through developing RNA-based therapeutics. The current projects in the Kasinski lab are subdivided into the following:

  • Ligand-mediated delivery of therapeutically relevant small RNAs
  • Endogenous delivery of RNAs through secreted vesicles, such as exosomes
  • High throughput screening for small molecule inhibitors that alter miRNA biogenesis
  • Identification of miRNAs and protein-coding genes mediating drug resistance
  • Determining miRNAs that drive cellular transformation and those that tumor cells are addicted to
  • Identifying competitive endogenous inhibitors of miRNAs

Example Project 1

project1

Using tumor suppressive miRNAs as cancer therapeutics and sensitizers

Example Project 2

folamiR34a

Using ligands, conjugated to small RNAs, to facilitate RNA delivery in vivo

Example Project 3

mouse

Identifying miRNAs that can potentiate tumor formation