RNA Interference (RNAi) Archives - Sanford Burnham Prebys

Related Disease
Cardiomyopathies, Cardiovascular Diseases

Anatomical Systems and Sites
Cardiovascular System, General Cell Biology, Heart

Research Models
Computational Modeling, Drosophila, Human

Techniques and Technologies
Bioinformatics, Cell Biology, Confocal Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy, Genetics, In vivo Modeling, Live Cell Imaging, Live Imaging, Microscopy and Imaging, Molecular Biology, RNA Interference (RNAi), Systems Biology, Transgenic Organisms

Related Disease
HIV/AIDS, Infectious Diseases, Molecular Biology

Phenomena or Processes
Host-Pathogen Interactions, Infectious Disease Processes, Inflammation, Innate Immunity

Anatomical Systems and Sites
Immune System and Inflammation

Research Models
Clinical and Transitional Research, Computational Modeling, Human, Human Cell Lines, Mouse, Mouse Cell Lines, Primary Cells, Primary Human Cells

Techniques and Technologies
Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Cellular and Molecular Imaging, Drug Discovery, Drug Efficacy, Gene Expression, Gene Knockout (Complete and Conditional), Gene Silencing, High-Throughput/Robotic Screening, RNA Interference (RNAi), Systems Biology

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Xueqin (Sherine) Sun seeks to better understand the genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of cancers, using genome editing technologies, animal and patient-derived models, and other tools to develop more effective cancer therapies.

“My lab is interested in studying how DNA or the machinery that interprets it leads to the transformation of normal cells into cancerous cells and concurrently, their specific vulnerabilities. Identifying these intrinsic vulnerabilities and targeting them properly is profoundly important to developing effective cancer therapies.”

Another aspect of Sun’s work is understanding how cancer cells and tumors change their circumstances and environment to improve survival, including hiding from or repressing the immune system.

“Changes to DNA itself and the way how DNA is interpreted by cells can transform normal cells into cancer cells. And transformed cells propagate by enhancing the misinterpreted DNA information, which in turn becomes the Achilles’ heel of cancer cells. Our goal is to find out how DNA information is misinterpreted in different ways and how to correct it to halt cancer.”

At Sanford Burnham Prebys, Sun and colleagues will employ a host of leading-edge tools and approaches, including functional genomics, artificial intelligence, structural biology, large-scale drug screening, and advanced imaging/spatial technologies.

Sun conducted her postdoctoral fellowship at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory under the guidance of Alea Mills, PhD, a professor at the National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center at Cold Spring Harbor.

She received her PhD from Wuhan University in China.

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After a successful teaching career at the University of Michigan I have had the privilege to “reboot” my research career at Sanford Burnham Prebys where I have had the opportunity to develop novel methodologies to understand cardiomyopathy. I have also had the opportunity to work with NASA scientists to do experiments on the International Space Station.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, Neurochemistry
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX, Neuroscience NIMH 
PhD, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, Neuroscience NIMH 
B.A., Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, Biology 

Prestigious Runding Awards or Major Collaborative Grants

2015-2020: NIH R01 HL132241-01A1 – Using Drosophila genetics to identify molecular links between ion channel dysfunction and pathological cardiac remodeling. (PI) 2013-2018 NASA NRA #NNH12ZTT001N – The effects of microgravity on cardiac function, structure and gene expression using the Drosophila model. (Co-I)

Honor and Awards

2014: Space Florida International Space Station Research Competition Winner – Co-investigator – One of three Basic Research proposals selected for launch aboard SpaceX3 – Mission completed, live flies returned on May 18,2014
2001: Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Michigan
1997: Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Michigan
1986-1988: National Institute of Mental Health Fellowship
1983-1985: National Institute of Mental Health Fellowship
1981: Sigma Xi Research Award 1980 MBL Scholarship, Neural Systems and Behavior Course
1971-1975: National Merit Scholarship, Lehigh University

Board Appointments

2018-present: Board member American Society for Gravitational and Space Research

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