About us
The Orellana Lab investigates whether changes in the chemical modification (also known as the epitranscriptome) of RNA molecules play a role in the development of human cancers.
While messenger RNAs (mRNAs) provide the instructions for producing a protein, transfer RNAs (tRNAs) “read” the information in that message and supply the necessary amino acid building blocks. To function properly, these transfer RNAs must fold into the correct three-dimensional shape, a process that requires the RNA to be chemically modified. Owing to their high cellular abundance and stability, tRNAs have been commonly considered to be housekeeping molecules.
However, it is becoming increasingly clear that tRNAs are highly regulated, and that even small changes in their abundance or their nucleotide modification levels can have profound effects, leading to aberrant translation, changes in protein expression, and disease states.
The tRNA epitranscriptome and the functional tRNA pool have emerged as important regulatory layers in the translation of the human genome. However, our current understanding of the functional tRNA pool is limited.
Therefore, the focus of the Orellana Lab is to study the causes and effects of tRNA dysregulation in human disease and to use this knowledge to develop tRNA-based therapeutics and diagnosis.
The Team
Esteban Orellana (PI) 🇪🇨
Esteban is an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular and Systems Biology at Geisel School of Medicine, where he studies the role of RNA modifications, specifically on transfer RNAs(tRNAs), in human cancer and neurological diseases. See Esteban’s CV
Noor M. Taher
Noor is broadly interested in the interplay between protein structure and function, specifically in the context of enzyme activity and regulation. After immersing himself in protein biochemistry and structural biology in Dean Madden’s laboratory at Dartmouth College, Noor spent a year working at Adimab in Lebanon, NH in the Protein Analytics group. He was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, and enjoys playing the trumpet and acting.
Isobel Bowles (PD)🇺🇸
Isobel is a postdoc in the lab interested in the use of tRNA-based therapeutics to study the connection between tRNA, its modification status, and human disease. Her love for RNA research began at Ohio State University where she received her PhD in Biochemistry. Originally from Indianapolis, in her free time she enjoys playing tennis, going on hikes, and trying new restaurants.
Shunya Kaneko (PD) 🇯🇵
Shunya is a postdoctoral researcher focused on RNA modifications and their effects on target tRNAs. He started by studying retrotransposon repression in fission yeast and earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Hokkaido University, Japan. His interest in RNA processing and modifications grew during this research. He later received his Ph.D. from SOKENDAI, Japan. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, training, watching baseball, exploring restaurants, and playing sports.
Mac Aguirre ( MCB) 🇵🇪
Mac is a graduate student interested in investigating the mechanisms that control the quality of mature tRNAs and how the disruption of these pathways is associated with certain diseases. He also dedicates himself to helping Peruvian students through the “Serendipity Mentorship in Science” and “Research Experience for Peruvian Undergraduates (REPU)” programs.
Qi Yao (MCB) 🇨🇳
Qi is a graduate student interested in tRNA dysregulation in stem cell differentiation and human diseases. Born in Yangquan, Shanxi, she studied Pharmaceutical Science and worked at Moderna before getting into Dartmouth. She enjoys playing music, swimming, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and exploring local eateries.
Sevdora Eshnazarova 🇺🇸 D'25
Sevdora is an undergraduate interested in the role of tRNA modifications on stem cell differentiation and human disease. At Dartmouth, she is pursuing a double major in Biology and Japanese Language while following the pre-med track. During her free time, she enjoyssightseeing and taking walks.
Honorary members: Kori and Tito 🇺🇸
Tito (Left ) and Kori (Right) like to nap all day and are our newest members.
You
Please inquire about open positions in the lab