UMCUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School · Biology
Richter Lab
Joel D Richter · Worcester, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Dr. Joel D Richter's lab focuses on understanding how RNA controls neural functions that are essential for learning and memory. They study how errors in RNA translation can lead to disorders like Fragile X Syndrome and autism. The lab combines molecular biology techniques with mouse models to explore how specific proteins regulate the translation and splicing of RNA in the brain, influencing cognitive abilities and behavior.
RNAneural functiontranslational controlsynaptic plasticitylearning and memoryFragile X Syndromealternative splicingCPEBFMRP
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how CPEB1 deficiency affects Fragile X pathology in mouse models.
AIM 02Explore the mechanism behind CPEB1 regulating 3' UTR length.
AIM 03Determine how FMRP stalls ribosomes on target mRNAs.
AIM 04Evaluate FMRP's role in regulating alternative splicing in the brain.
AIM 05Assess how codon usage impacts translation and RNA stability through FMRP.
Skills the Lab Values
RNA sequencingribosome profilingmouse modelselectrophysiologymolecular cloningWestern blotcell cultureelectrophysiological recordingsbehavioral assays
Output against the department
Publications215top 30% of dept.305th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations22ktop 18% of dept.184th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.