Furqan M Fazal, PhD
Assistant Professor and CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research
Positions
- Assistant Professor and CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research
-
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
91¹ú²úÊÓƵ
Houston, Texas, United States
- Core Member
-
Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC)
91¹ú²úÊÓƵ
Houston, Texas, United States
- Faculty Member
-
Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center
91¹ú²úÊÓƵ
Houston, Texas, United States
- Faculty Member
-
Chemical, Physical & Structural Biology Graduate Program
Baylor College of Member
Houston, Texas, United States
- Faculty Member
-
Cancer & Cell Biology Graduate Program
91¹ú²úÊÓƵ
Houston, Texas, United States
- Faculty Senate
-
91¹ú²úÊÓƵ
Education
- Postdoctoral Fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine
- 06/2021 - Stanford, CA
- PhD from Stanford University
- 04/2015 - Stanford, CA
- MS from Stanford University
- 09/2010 - Stanford, CA
- BA from Amherst College
- 05/2008 - Amherst, MA
Honors & Awards
- RNA Society Scaringe Young Scientist Postdoctoral Award, 2020
- Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2017-20
- Stanford Genome Training Program (SGTP) Fellowship, 2015-17
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Fellowship, 2009-12
- Phi Beta Kappa (Top 5% of Class), Amherst College, 2007
Professional Interests
- Regulation of mitochondrial gene expression
- Regulation of nuclear membrane-less organelles
- Local translation mechanisms
- RNA modifications and epitranscriptomics
- Transcriptome-wide RNA subcellular localization
- Bioinformatics and quantitative RNA biology
- Resistance mechanisms in triple negative breast cancer
- RNA genomics technologies
Professional Statement
I am a biophysicist currently developing genomic tools to understand RNA biology. My long-term goals are to characterize how genetic information encoded in RNAs, both in coding and non-coding transcripts, contributes to the rich diversity of form and function across the domains of life, and within the cell types of complex organisms in both normal and diseases states. I am constantly impressed by the plasticity of RNA to carry out myriad functions, and I work on developing and applying tools to interrogate this immense world of possibilities.
Cells are exquisitely-organized entities, with the location of biomolecules within intimately tied to the maintenance of the organism and the regulation of its genes. Although subcellular RNA localization impacts gene expression through myriad ways, investigating localization simultaneously for many RNA species has been challenging. To address these obstacles, we recently developed an RNA sequencing-based approach called APEX-seq to determine the subcellular locations of RNAs transcriptome-wide in human cells at nm-spatial and minute-temporal resolution. A preliminary atlas of localization revealed that thousands of genes and transcript isoforms show differential RNA subcellular localization, which in turn has profound consequences for our understanding of development, neurodegeneration, and cancers.
The Fazal lab focuses on systematically interrogating the subcellular transcriptomes of mammalian cells and characterizing the scope, regulation, and function of subcellular localization, particularly at the systems and organismal level. We use a variety of biochemical, biophysical, imaging, genomic and computational approaches to investigate the sequence-function relationship dictating RNA localization.
Cells are exquisitely-organized entities, with the location of biomolecules within intimately tied to the maintenance of the organism and the regulation of its genes. Although subcellular RNA localization impacts gene expression through myriad ways, investigating localization simultaneously for many RNA species has been challenging. To address these obstacles, we recently developed an RNA sequencing-based approach called APEX-seq to determine the subcellular locations of RNAs transcriptome-wide in human cells at nm-spatial and minute-temporal resolution. A preliminary atlas of localization revealed that thousands of genes and transcript isoforms show differential RNA subcellular localization, which in turn has profound consequences for our understanding of development, neurodegeneration, and cancers.
The Fazal lab focuses on systematically interrogating the subcellular transcriptomes of mammalian cells and characterizing the scope, regulation, and function of subcellular localization, particularly at the systems and organismal level. We use a variety of biochemical, biophysical, imaging, genomic and computational approaches to investigate the sequence-function relationship dictating RNA localization.
Selected Publications
-
Surbhi Sharma, Furqan M Fazal. " " 2024 Mar 6;
Pubmed PMID: . -
Wu KE, Fazal FM, Parker KR, Zou J, Chang HY. " " Cell Systems. 2020 ; 11 : 102-10.
Pubmed PMID: . -
Fazal FM*, Han S*, Parker KR, Kaewsapsak P, Xu J, Boettiger AN, Chang HY, Ting AY. " " Cell. 2019 ; 178 : 473–490.
Pubmed PMID: . -
Sun L*, Fazal FM*, Li P*, Broughton JP, Lee B, Tang L, Huang W, Kool ET, Chang HY, Zhang QC. " " Nature Structural and Molecular Biology (NSMB). 2019 ; 26 : 322-330.
Pubmed PMID: .
Funding
-
Revealing Principles of Subcellular RNA Localization by Proximity Labeling
- NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award
-
Defining New Mechanisms and Regulation of RNA Localization in Cancer
- CPRIT First-time Tenure-track Faculty Award
-
Role of Cytoskeletal Motor Proteins in Subcellular RNA Localization
- NIGMS R35 Grant
-
Leveraging RNA Proximity Labeling to Reveal the Principles of Subcellular RNA Localization to Mitochondria
- Welch Research Grant
-
Mapping Mitochondria-localized mRNA Translation Changes in Response to Neoadjuvant Therapies in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Grant
-
Mapping Mitochondrial-localized mRNA Translational Rewiring in Radiation-resistant Pediatric DIPG
- Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation Research Grant
to edit your profile