Zhou Lab
Principal Investigator: Lijun Zhou
Institution: University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
Primary Subfield: Molecular & Cell Bio
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
PROJECT SUMMARY The objective of my research program over the next five years is to advance nucleic acid chemistry and harness in vitro selection (SELEX) techniques to expand the genetic toolkit for RNA silencing and editing, laying a foundation for next-generation RNA therapeutics. RNA silencing and editing hold transformative potential for treating genetic disorders caused by single-point mutations without altering the genetic code. However, current RNA silencers lack sufficient allele specificity, and site-directed RNA adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing remains in its early stage. To address these challenges, my program focuses on the chemistry, structure, and function of de novo XNAs (xeno nucleic acids)—synthetic nucleic acid analogs with modified backbones that enhance nuclease resistance, extend half-life, and confer unique thermodynamic properties. While chemical backbone modifications have revolutionized RNA therapeutics, they often compromise the natural functionality of catalytic RNAs or aptamers, when incorporated after the evolution process. To overcome these limitations, we are developing an innovative XNA-SELEX platform to generate functional XNA molecules. Over t…
Active NIH Awards
- 1R35GM161752-01: Harnessing XNAs to Expand the Genetic Toolkit for RNA Silencing and RNA editing (2026)
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