“Illuminating Dark Pathways”

The McManus lab has a strong technology component, having developed cutting-edge research tools and large-scale resources that relate to small RNAs (microRNA, RNAi, and CRISPR) for the interrogation of gene function and their potential use in the intervention of human disease. We operate in a diversity of research areas — including RNA biology and developing cutting-edge research tools based on coding and noncoding RNA biology— to answer fundamental biological questions. Our systems span from cell culture to in vivo models, focusing on a broad array of disease relevant tissues. We aim to uncover the dark matter of the genome, to help unravel the beautiful genomic complexity of pathways and how genes interact in development and disease.

The lab’s recent work includes harnessing the power of orthogonal CRISPR screens to determine drug resistance pathways, persister cell vulnerabilities, as well as development of a dCas9-KRAB mouse for in vivo gene repression.

 

Michael McManus

University of California, San Francisco