Thomas Aune
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC)
Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center (DRTC)
Vanderbilt Genetics Institute (VGI)
Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology (PMI)
Department of Medicine
Division of Rheumatology & Immunology
Our research focuses on the use of functional genomic and epigenetic approaches to understand gene regulation. Our interests range from detailed mechanistic studies of the interferon-gamma gene, a key cytokine produced by cells of the innate and adaptive immune system, to the use of these approaches to gain new insights into human disease. In addition, we have begun to focus our attention on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and other species of RNAs that do not code for proteins. We have developed model organisms, computational and analytic pipelines to dissect enhancer function and functions of these newly identified RNA species in biologic systems.
Our research focuses on the use of functional genomic and epigenetic approaches to understand gene regulation. Our interests range from detailed mechanistic studies of the interferon-gamma gene, a key cytokine produced by cells of the innate and adaptive immune system, to the use of these approaches to gain new insights into human disease. In addition, we have begun to focus our attention on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and other species of RNAs that do not code for proteins. We have developed model organisms, computational and analytic pipelines to dissect enhancer function and functions of these newly identified RNA species in biologic systems
Keywords: genomics , enhancers , long non-coding RNA , epigenetics
Research Area: RNA Biology , Gene Regulation , Immunology , Molecular Pathology