Dr. Jeannie Lee

Biography

Jeannie T. Lee is a Professor in the field of Genetics at Harvard University. Her research focuses on understanding long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their interactions with chromatin complexes to achieve locus-specific and temporally specific gene expression patterns. Utilizing the X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) model, she studies the structure and function of lncRNAs and their epigenetic regulation, extending her findings to networks of RNA-protein interactions on a genome-wide scale. Her work highlights the significant roles of lncRNAs, particularly in the X-inactivation center (Xic), where transcripts act as repressors and activators in the regulation of genes on the X-chromosome. Lee's research suggests that noncoding transcripts uniquely facilitate various epigenetic processes, with implications for allelic (cis-regulatory) targeting of chromatin factors such as Polycomb complexes. Furthermore, she is extending her analysis of lncRNAs at genome-wide scales and developing novel molecular techniques that demonstrate the critical role of lncRNAs in normal embryonic development and in the pathology of diseases, including cancer. Jeannie is especially interested in the epigenetic aspects of diseases like Rett Syndrome and cancer.

Research Interests