Stephen Floor, PhD

The Floor Lab studies the mechanisms by which RNA impacts human gene expression in health and disease. RNA chaperones are a major focus of the lab, which remodel RNA structures and RNA-protein interactions. We use deep sequencing, molecular biology of purified proteins, and imaging approaches to define the in vitro and cellular mechanisms of RNA chaperones. Many DEAD-box RNA chaperones are genetically altered in cancers and other diseases. We study the molecular basis of such alterations using cancer cell lines and genetically engineered stem cell models, aiming to better understand human biology and nominate new therapeutic targets or treatment regimens.