Exploring RNA-directed gene regulation in cell fate & disease

The Henninger Lab explores how RNA regulates gene expression at multiple scales in health and disease. We use approaches based in molecular biology, soft-matter physics, and super-resolution imaging to understand how RNA regulates its own production to direct cell fate and how RNA-mediated dysregulation contributes to human disease.

Learn more about our work

LAB NEWS

Henninger Lab Holiday Party!

December 14, 2024

Celebrating almost one year of the lab with great food and billiards

Picture of the lab group with a Christmas tree in the background.

Halloween!

October 31, 2024

The lab dressed up as a Gibson cloning reaction with compatible fragments.

Picture of lab members in a group with matching colors between Gibson fragments.

The lab receives a Kaufman Foundation award!

October 29, 2024

The lab received a Kaufman Foundation New Investigator Grant from the Pittsburgh Foundation to explore a role for RNA in directing transcription. We are very grateful for the support of fundamental science!

Picture of headline saying "Kafuman Foundation Awards $2 million for fundamental scientific research at Pennsylvania institutions."

RNA Intrigues Biologist Jonathan Henninger

October 14, 2024

https://www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-events/2024/1014_new-hire-henninger.html

Image of article profiling the Henninger lab.

New preprint! Active RNA synthesis patterns nuclear condensates

October 13, 2024

Check out new work on bioRxiv!

Graphical abstract depicting centralized vs distributed condensates in the nucleolus.

Master’s student Arth joins the lab!

September 1, 2024

The lab welcomes CMU Master’s student Arth Banka to the lab!

A picture of Arth Banka.

Pirates game!

August 28, 2024

The Henninger and Woolford labs enjoyed a Pirates game at PNC park. Although the Pirates ended up losing after a 10-3 initial lead, the Renegade hotdogs made up for it.

Happy RNA day!!

August 1, 2024

The lab celebrated RNA day with a picnic joining the McManus, Woolford, and Kaplow labs outside of the Mellon Institute.

Aya and Shumin present their work as part of the CMU Summer Research Institute program

July 31, 2024

CMU undergrads Aygul Kerimova (CMU-Qatar) and Shumin Yi (CMU-Pittsburgh) presented their work with the lab as part of the Summer Research Institute program. Great work Aya and Shumin!

Aya and Shumin presenting their work to the SRI group

Ph.D. students Haoran and Lydia join the lab!

April 17, 2024

The lab welcomes CMU graduate students Haoran Wang and Lydia Phillips to the lab! Haoran and Lydia are part of the CMU Ph.D. program in the Biological Sciences.

A picture of Haoran Wang.
A picture of Lydia Phillips.

CMU undergraduate students Sid and Kevin join the lab!

March 20, 2024

The lab welcomes Sid Srivastava and Kevin Kim to the lab to conduct undergraduate research. Sid will be working on bioinformatic approaches to discover RNA-encoded regulatory elements, and Kevin will be working on investigating the role of RNA-binding proteins in transcription.

A picture of Sid Srivastava
A picture of Kevin Kim.

Bailey joins the lab!

March 18, 2024

We welcome Bailey Webster to the lab as a Research Associate!

The lab celebrates Pi Day!

March 14, 2024

The lab baked homemade pies and celebrated with the Armbruster and Ransey labs

A picture of Henninger and Armbruster lab members who volunteered to make pies for pi day.
A picture of the Armbruster, Ransey, and Henninger labs celebrating pi day with some home made pies.

Dervla joins the lab!

February 26, 2024

We welcome Dervla Moore-Frederick to the lab as a Research Associate!

Jon gives a talk at the Genome Regulation through RNA Conference (Fusion) in Cancún, Mexico

February 13, 2024

The Henninger Lab opens!!

January 1, 2024