Vanderbilt University · BiochemistryViral Dynamics Lab
Yi Ren · Nashville, Tennessee
Research Focus
Dr. Yi Ren's lab at Vanderbilt University is delving into the mechanisms of mRNA nuclear export, focusing on how the SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 protein inhibits this process to enhance viral replication. The lab aims to uncover how this viral protein interacts with host cellular machinery and how understanding these interactions can lead to new antiviral strategies. Their research combines techniques from biochemistry, cell biology, and structural biology to provide insights into both fundamental cellular processes and viral pathogenesis.
mRNA exportSARS-CoV-2viral pathogenesisNsp1TREX complex
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the interactions of the Nsp1 protein with the mRNA export machinery.
AIM 02Determine the structural basis of Nsp1's inhibition of host gene expression.
AIM 03Assess the role of Nsp1 in viral replication and pathogenesis using animal models.
AIM 04Identify host mRNAs affected by Nsp1 to understand antiviral responses.
AIM 05Uncover novel therapeutic strategies targeting Nsp1 function.
Skills the Lab Values
biochemical assayscell culturevirus modelingbiophysical techniquesimaging techniquesmolecular cloningstructural biologydata analysis using Python
Output against the department
Publications177top 48% of dept.193rd of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations9.4kbottom 49% of dept.206th of 402
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.