Wesley Cochrane
- Assistant Professor | Biochemistry
- Email: wgcochra@purdue.edu
- Phone: 765-494-7322
- Office: BRWN 3130D
Research Interests:
RNA serves functional roles that are integral to numerous biological processes, from metabolite sensing and regulation of gene expression to catalysis and cell-cell communications. RNA dysfunctions are being increasingly associated with human diseases, as aberrations in either the structure or abundance of a given RNA can impact cell homeostasis. Recent work has demonstrated that biological RNA structures can be selectively targeted​ using small molecules to impact biology in myriad disease contexts. Additionally, synthetic RNAs are being directly utilized as therapeutic tools for vaccine development and for the treatment of genetic diseases.
The Cochrane lab develops chemical technologies to identify and ameliorate disease-associated RNAs, and leverages directed evolution to expand the repertoire of therapeutic RNA tools. This work is facilitated by our expertise in RNA biochemistry and functional selections, high-throughput experimentation, bio- and cheminformatics, DNA-encoded library technology, and droplet microfluidics. We are actively recruiting for projects including: high-throughput experimentation for identification of RNA ligands and elucidation of RNA druggability; combinatorial diversification of RNA ligands for direct-to-biology discovery; massively parallel mapping of interactions between FDA-approved drugs and biological RNAs; development of chemical induced proximity tools to modulate RNA biology; evolution of bio-stable therapeutic RNAs; and engineering of synthetic cellular RNA expression systems.
Education:
BS, Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara
PhD, Chemistry, Scripps Research
Postdoc, RNA Biochemistry, Salk Institute for Biological Studies