Introduction

The Hannon laboratory comprises a broad spectrum of programs in small RNA biology, mammalian genetics and genomics.  We study RNAi and related pathways in a wide variety of organisms to extract common themes that define both the mechanisms by which small RNAs act and the biological processes which they impact.  Currently, we focus on  microRNAs, endogenous siRNAs and piRNAs and their roles in gene regulation, cancer biology, stem cell biology and in defense of the genome against transposons.  In collaboration with Steve Elledge (Harvard) and Scott Lowe (CSHL), we develop genome-wide shRNA tools for RNAi-based genetics in mammalian cells, and we are now producing similar collections of artificial microRNAs for Arabidopsis with Detlef Weigel (MPI), Dick McCombie (CSHL) and Rob Martienssen (CSHL) as part of the 2010 project (see 2010.cshl.edu).  Our genomic efforts include the application of RNAi-based genetic screens to cancer biology and stem cells.  We also make heavy use of next generation sequencing methodologies for probing small RNA populations, in part as a member of the ENCODE consortium (with Tom Gingeras, CSHL).  Finally, we develop (with Dick McCombie) and apply focal re-sequencing methods for identifying disease relevant mutations, for probing the epigenetic landscape and for the study of human evolution.