Johns Hopkins University · Biology · PhysiologyNeurodegenerative Disease Mechanisms Lab
Shuying Sun · Baltimore, Maryland
Research Focus
Dr. Shuying Sun's lab at Johns Hopkins University focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer's. They study how certain types of RNA related to genetic mutations can become toxic to nerve cells and lead to these conditions. By using advanced imaging techniques and genetic analysis, the lab aims to uncover new insights that could help develop effective treatments for these debilitating diseases.
ALSfrontotemporal dementiaC9ORF72TDP-43LINE1 RNAretrotranspositionneurodegenerationRNA metabolismtherapeutic targetsneurotoxicity
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the metabolism of sense and antisense RNA repeats in C9ORF72-linked ALS/FTD.
AIM 02Identify the proteins associated with antisense repeat RNA in living cells.
AIM 03Assess the impact of knocking down one RNA strand on the metabolism of the other.
AIM 04Explore the relationship between LINE1 RNA dysregulation and neurodegeneration.
AIM 05Determine the effects of TDP-43 loss on RNA decay pathways in neurodegenerative contexts.
Skills the Lab Values
single molecule imagingbiochemical assayshigh-throughput sequencingRNA isolation and analysiscell culturefluorescent in situ hybridizationCRISPRgenetic screeningmolecular cloninghuman iPSC differentiation
Output against the department
Publications78bottom 22% of dept.1,030th of 1,318
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.8kbottom 43% of dept.749th of 1,318
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.