HELLO.

I'M KEVIN

My research interests are in identifying and characterizing the function of RNA binding proteins, understanding the role of RNA in disease pathogenesis, and in translating basic scientific discoveries into translational therapeutics and treatments for diseases such as lupus and cancer. I am particularly interested in RNA biology involved in autoimmune diseases and cancer. I approach this subject using a multidisciplinary approach that combines bioinformatics, biochemistry, microbiology, and genetics to proceed from bench-to-bedside discoveries.

 

In my current position as a PhD student in the lab of Dr. Sandra Wolin (National Cancer Institute and Yale University) I am working on understanding the function and regulation of a novel RNA repair operon in Salmonella Typhimurium. This RNA repair operon encodes an ortholog to the RNA binding protein, and lupus autoantigen, Ro60. A better understanding of the roles of Ro60 in bacteria will shed light on the roles of this protein in diseases such as lupus and may lead to treatments for lupus by providing an understanding of how bacteria Ro60 orthologues trigger lupus autoimmunity.