Jinwei Zhang, Ph.D.

The goal of our research is to gain a detailed structural and mechanistic understanding of cellular and viral noncoding RNAs and their associated ribonucleoprotein complexes involved in gene regulation and human diseases. We are working to uncover general motifs and principles that govern RNA tertiary structure formation, RNA recognition by another RNA or protein, and how dynamic RNA structures contribute to the regulation of gene expression and human pathophysiology.

Current Research

1. Structures and mechanisms of diverse bacterial T-box riboswitches
2. Specific tRNA recognition by host and viral proteins and RNAs
3. Differential regulation of antiviral protein PKR by host and viral RNAs

Applying our Research

Structural and mechanistic elucidation of functionally important host noncoding RNAs and viral RNAs will inform and guide design of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against bacterial and viral infections, metabolic and autoimmune disorders, and several cancers.

Need for Further Study

Our research aims to help illuminate the molecular structure, function, and mechanisms of the “dark matter” of the transcriptome, the non-coding RNAs that execute various cellular functions, as well as viral RNA structures that enable viral replication and infectivity. Detailed understanding of these non-coding structured RNAs and their interactions will lead to novel therapeutics that improve human health.

• Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator, NIDDK, NIH, 2015-2022
• Research Fellow, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, 2011-2015
• Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 2009-2011
• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009
• B.S., Peking University, 2002