UBC Seminar
3 February, 2026
16:00 – 17:30
@Minnaert 2.02
3 February, 2026
16:00 – 17:30
@Minnaert 2.02
Come join us 3 February from 16:00-17:30 for two presentations by Hanneke Vlaming and Joana Silva, followed by drinks!
Transcription by RNA Polymerase II produces all protein-coding and many non-coding RNA molecules in the cell. The Vlaming group aims to understand how productive transcription over long distances is achieved at protein-coding genes, and conversely, what drives early termination of RNA Polymerase II transcription at many non-coding loci. To this end, we use both advanced high-throughput screening and precise genome editing approaches, and combine this with cutting-edge nascent-RNA sequencing techniques as well as other genome-wide techniques. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms behind this key step in the transcription cycle, will enable studies into misregulation in disease.
Cells adapt, differentiate, and respond to stress by rewiring both metabolism and protein synthesis. At the Silva Lab, we study how ribosomes actively shape these decisions, acting not only as translators of genetic information but as regulators of cellular state.
A central goal of the lab is to expand the translational landscape by identifying non-canonical translation events and small proteins that act as signaling molecules, especially within mitochondria. By integrating ribosome biology, metabolism, and cell fate, we aim to uncover fundamental principles of cellular plasticity relevant to development, regeneration, and disease.
