Scientific Director, Bioinformatics Core
Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Our lab uses the tractable C. elegans embryo as an experimental system. One of our goals is to make a comprehensive determination of gene expression in every cell in this nematode. We are computationally analyzing this complete atlas to infer gene regulatory pathways. One future goal is to compare gene expression patterns across disparate metazoan phyla, searching for how the various signaling pathways and transcription factor (TF) modules are differentially expressed in patterning distinct body plans. In addition to embryonic development, we aim to reveal the spatial and conditional aspects of gene regulatory pathways by studying an organ (the human pancreas), tumorigenesis (zebrafish melanoma), and host-pathogen interaction (human Salmonella), through a collaborative approach that will also include the development of novel methods for spatial transcriptomics. We will also extend our analysis to regulatory pathways involving—in addition to mRNA—small RNA such as miRNAs and piRNAs, as well as lincRNAs. By providing insight into the structure, function, and plasticity of gene regulatory networks, this research will impact the fields of developmental, ecological, and evolutionary biology.
646-501-4603
@ItaiYanai, 435 East 30th Street
8th Floor, Room 817
New York, NY 10016
Scientific Director, Bioinformatics Core
PhD from Boston University
Cell reports. 2022 10 11; 41(2):111477
Nature genetics. 2022 Aug; 54(8):1192-1201
Human genetics. 2022 Jun; 141(6):1211-1222
Nature reviews. Genetics. 2022 Apr; 23(4):196-197
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2021 Dec; 1506(1):74-97
Science. 2021 Nov 12; 374(6569):828
Nature communications. 2021 Nov 01; 12(1):6278