Aseem Z. Ansari

Honorary Fellow 2019-present
Professor 2002-2019
ansari@biochem.wisc.edu

Education

B.Sc., St. Xavier's College, Bombay University
Ph.D., Northwestern University
Postdoctoral, Harvard University & Whitehead Institute (MIT)

Publications
PubMed

Studying the regulation of gene expression at the interface of chemistry, biology and genomics

The information required to produce a complex organism is encoded within its genome. A lens cell of the eye and an insulin-producing pancreatic cell contain identical genomic information yet access only a subset of that information. Thus, regulated expression of specific genes, in response to various cues, is what instructs cells to adopt defined fates in an organism. Inappropriate expression of genes can give rise to diseases, including cancer and diabetes.

The broad goals of the lab are to understand the mechanistic events that culminate in the expression of specific genes, and to develop artificial transcription factors capable of regulating the expression of targeted genes. In a multidisciplinary effort, we utilize chemical, biological, biophysical, and genomic tools to address these goals.


Khorana & S.N. Bose Scholars Programs

Photo of Aseem Ansari

Areas of Expertise

  • Chemical Biology & Enzymology
  • Gene Expression & RNA Biology
  • Systems & Synthetic Biology