Dr. Kristen Lynch

Biography

Kristen W. Lynch is a Benjamin Rush Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. She received her B.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1990 and 1996, respectively. Dr. Lynch's research focuses on understanding the biochemical mechanisms and regulatory networks that control RNA processing events, particularly in the context of the human immune system. Her lab has identified multiple kinase pathways that regulate the abundance and activity of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in a signal-dependent manner. Significant contributions include demonstrating regulation of splicing during the initial recognition of splice sites, highlighting therapeutic vulnerabilities within splicing regulation. Additionally, her work has unveiled broad alternative splicing programs triggered by antigen stimulation in T cells during viral infections, showcasing implications for gene expression control in immune responses. Her collaborative research also relates to cancer, revealing how dysregulated splicing can mimic genetic mutations in leukemia. Currently, her studies are expanding to analyze various mechanisms of RNA regulation, including alternative polyadenylation and mRNA decay, emphasizing the coordination of RBPs processes.

Research Interests