Dr. Nachtergaele [HHMI Fellow] is investigating the roles of a chemical modification of mRNA called methylation. Many enzymes that add and remove RNA modifications impact developmental processes and cancer proliferation, but how they are regulated remains a mystery. She aims to identify the mechanisms by which mRNA methylation alters gene expression and eventually results in altered cell signaling and growth. Her goals are to understand these regulatory principles, to uncover how they become misregulated in disease, and to exploit these processes to identify novel cancer therapeutic targets.
Damon Runyon Researchers
Meet Our Scientists![](http://www.damonrunyon.org/sites/default/files/SNachtergaele_DRCRF_photo%20%28250x250%29%20%28225x225%29.jpg)
Sigrid Nachtergaele, PhD
Project title: "The dynamic N1-methyladenosine methylome in eukaryotic mRNA"
Institution: The University of Chicago
Named Award: HHMI Fellow
Award Program: Fellow
Sponsor(s) / Mentor(s): Chuan He, PhD
Cancer Type: Blood, Breast, Lung
Research Area: Chemical Biology