THINC Faculty MemBERS

 

Trey Westbrook, Ph.D.

Executive Director, THINC
McNair Scholar in Cancer Research
Welch Chair in Chemistry
Professor in Molecular & Human Genetics and Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology

The Westbrook lab is dedicated to tackling fundamental problems in cancer biology and leveraging discoveries into novel therapies for cancer patients.

Steven Boeynaems, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in Molecular & Human Genetics CPRIT Scholar

The Boeynaems lab studies how biomolecular condensates are implicated in cellular stress responses in biology and human disease.

Furqan Fazal, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology CPRIT Scholar

The Fazal lab focuses on interrogating the subcellular transcriptomes of mammalian cells and characterizing the scope, regulation, and function of subcellular localization, particularly at the systems and organismal level.

Kristen Karlin, ph.D.

Director of Target Discovery, THINC
Assistant Professor in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology

Dr. Karlin’s group utilizes functional genomics and chemical genetic approaches in cell lines and in vivo models to uncover therapeutic target mechanism of action in disease.

 
 

Tony Mustoe, ph.D.

Assistant Professor in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology CPRIT Scholar

The Mustoe Lab develops new chemical and computational technologies that enable high-throughput biophysical measurement of RNA structure and dynamics inside of living cells.

 

CALLA OLSON, PH.D.

Director of Chemical Biology, THINC Assistant Professor in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology

Dr. Olson’s group develops and applies biochemical and biophysical techniques to enable early drug discovery and facilitate understanding of compound selectivity.

 
 

MONICA PILLON, PH.D.

Assistant Professor in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology CPRIT Scholar

The Pillon Lab studies how RNA processing and decay plays a central role in maintaining human health and explore how dysregulation of these molecular pathways contribute to disease states.

 
 

Miko Simon, PH.D.

Group Leader of Computational Biology, THINC Assistant Professor in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology

Dr. Simon’s group develops computational approaches designed for complex molecular data to drive the discovery of RNA therapeutics.

ERIC VAN NOSTRAND, PH.D.

Assistant Professor in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology CPRIT Scholar

The Van Nostrand Lab focuses on a large-scale view of RNA biology, methods to explore RNA processing, large-scale maps of RNA regulatory networks, and RNA translation in breast cancer.

 
 

JEREMY WILUSZ, PH.D.

Director of Academic Development, THINC
Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers Professor
Associate Professor in Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology CPRIT Scholar

The Wilusz Lab aims to characterize the mechanisms by which non-canonical RNAs are generated, regulated, and function, revealing novel fundamental insights into RNA biology and developing new methods to treat diseases.