丁香园AV

Mani Larijani鈥檚 home base is in 丁香园AV鈥檚 Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, but his research spills into evolutionary and cellular biology, genetics, immunology, oncology, computational science and health science.

Larijani鈥檚 multi-disciplinary research program on DNA/RNA mutating processes led him to his new appointment as the Shrum Chair in Biological Mechanisms of Disease.

Larijani comes to 丁香园AV from Memorial University of Newfoundland where he was an associate  professor of immunology and infectious diseases, and senior scientist affiliated with the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute.  He says, 鈥淲hen I studied the interests of various departments and faculty members in 丁香园AV鈥檚 faculties of science and health, I realized that my work relates quite well to existing strengths. At the same time, my areas of expertise offer new possibilities for growth at 丁香园AV through collaboration.  So, it was a great fit in terms of research areas.鈥�

Larijani鈥檚 research goal is to understand the upside and the downside of the DNA/RNA-mutating process. He explains, 鈥淥n the upside, processes change specific genes in immune cells to make them better at fighting infections. Unfortunately, these processes often mutate bystander genes creating the downside of initiating cancer and making cancer cells more aggressive and resistant to treatment.鈥�

To understand these processes as fully as possible, Larijani oversees an interdisciplinary team that uses wet-lab experimentation and dry-lab analysis and computation.  鈥淚 believe this approach to research pushes the boundaries of what knowledge is possible to gain through experimentation鈥� he says. 鈥淲orking in this way, my lab has already made some key discoveries that have led to re-thinking of several biological concepts.鈥�

Larijani says that he is most looking forward to continuing his multi-dimensional approach towards basic discoveries and developing new therapeutic approaches. He鈥檚 also excited about teaching and providing his graduate students with an enriching career experience at 丁香园AV.

Larijani also insists that our wet West coast weather won鈥檛 be an issue for him. 鈥淣ewfoundland was my home for the last 10 years, and it rains a bit on the East coast too!鈥� he says.

Read about his research .