Ryan A. Flynn, MD, PhD

Boston Children's Hospital

Academic Titles

Associate Professor, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University

Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Research Program Affiliation

Member, Cancer Cell Biology

Research Abstract

My research interests focus on how RNA controls basic cellular processes. By studying mechanistic properties of RNA-protein interactions in the context of key molecular pathways like ribosomal biogenesis, RNA splicing, and translation, we can learn how cells leverage RNAs to accomplish complex processes. Importantly, many of these are disrupted in human diseases such as cancer, and thus establishing a deep understanding of their mechanistic operation can inform us on the development of cancer and possibly lead to new insights for how to treat it. In addition to RNA, another major cellular biopolymer that has a well-established role in cancer development and progression are glycans. We have recently directly connected RNA biology to glycobiology by discovering that RNAs can be modified with glycans, and we call these glycoconjugates glycoRNAs. Glycans normally target proteins to the cell surface where they participate in, or block, cell-cell interactions and act as regulatory molecules in immunological processes important during tumor development. A key area of focus for my lab is to develop our understanding for how glycoRNAs may also participate in, or control, these types of immunomodulatory interactions.