Our “Dynamic RNA Epitranscriptome and Functional RNA Lab (DREFR Lab)” is located in Division of Life Science and in Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

The Zhang Lab focuses on multiple research directions, including:

1. Reversible RNA methylation in gene expression regulation;
2. RNA-based therapeutics and RNA delivery;
3. Quantitative base-resolution sequencing of messenger RNA (mRNA) modifications;
4. Functional investigations of various RNA modifications in mRNA, chromosome-associated RNA (caRNA), non-coding RNA, mitochondrial RNA, and RNA virus;
5. Computational bioinformatics approaches to decipher the dynamic RNA epitranscriptome.

The Zhang Lab aims to advance research by leveraging expertise in chemical biology, chemistry, genomics, genetics, immunology, RNA biology, cell biology, RNA biochemistry, nucleic acid chemistry, protein engineering, mass spectrometry, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics. Our goal is to address fundamental questions related to gene expression regulation across diverse biological processes.

Lab Directions:

Chemical biology

Epigenetics

Biotechnology

Bioinformatics

Principle Investigator:

Prof. Li-Sheng ZHANG

Division of Life Science, HKUST

Department of Chemistry, HKUST

Email: zhangls@ust.hk