University of Washington-Seattle Campus · ChemistryRNA Interaction and Drug Design Lab
Gabriele Varani · Seattle, Washington
Research Focus
Gabriele Varani's lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding how small molecules interact with RNA. This research aims to develop new drugs that can target RNA viruses, such as Dengue and Zika, by designing molecules that bind to RNA with high specificity and affinity. The lab not only investigates the chemistry behind these interactions but also works on practical applications in fighting viral infections and addressing unmet medical needs.
RNA recognitionsmall moleculesdrug developmentDengue virusZika virusnanomolar affinitymolecular recognitionpharmaceutical chemistryinhibitor discovery
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how small molecules bind to RNA molecules.
AIM 02Develop drug candidates targeting Dengue and Zika viruses.
AIM 03Determine the three-dimensional structures of RNA-small molecule complexes.
AIM 04Collaborate with infectious disease biologists to test drug candidates in cell models.
AIM 05Analyze the thermodynamic properties of RNA-small molecule interactions.
Skills the Lab Values
RNA extractionNMR spectroscopyX-ray crystallographycell culturemolecular dynamics simulationsdrug designbiophysical assaysaffinity measurementscollaborative research methods
Output against the department
Publications471top 19% of dept.40th of 216
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations18ktop 27% of dept.59th of 216
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.