RNA regulation in immunity

In the Lagos group, we aim to translate exciting discoveries in RNA Biology to patient benefit through RNA Medicine. 

Our work focuses on the immune system. Immune cells exhibit remarkable sophistication when attacking infected or cancerous cells or when repairing damaged tissues. We are fascinated by the multitude of gene regulatory mechanisms that co-operate to determine the amount, lifespan, and location of each biomolecule that shapes immune cell function. Inspired by the centrality of RNA, we investigate how non-coding and regulatory RNAs, and post-transcriptional RNA modifications shape the function of immune cells in infection and cancer, with a primary focus on T cells. In parallel with these mechanistic studies, we  have a growing interest in pharmacological targeting of non-coding RNAs.

In addition to pre-clinical models, we study non-coding RNAs in humans to understand disease. Working with clinical cohorts, we explore RNA-based blood correlates for use in patient stratification and to improve current prognostic and diagnostic tools. In tissues, we develop RNA-centric spatially-resolved molecular pathology pipelines to study the evolution of post-transcriptional programmes associated with disease progression. We have applied such approaches to inflammatory and  infectious diseases, including  leishmaniasis and COVID-19, but also mental health conditions.