Harvard University · Microbiology & ImmunologyThe Ribosome Initiative
Amanda Joy Whipple · Cambridge, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Dr. Amanda Joy Whipple's research lab at Harvard University focuses on understanding how a specific molecular factor, SNORD116, contributes to Prader-Willi syndrome, a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Her team is investigating the role of SNORD116 in the biology of neuronal ribosomes, which are essential for protein synthesis in brain cells. By exploring the interactions of SNORD116 and its implications for brain function, the lab aims to uncover potential therapeutic strategies for correcting the unique challenges associated with Prader-Willi syndrome and similar disorders.
SNORD116ribosome biogenesisPrader-Willi syndromeneuronsmethyltransferase
Research Aims
5AIM 01Elucidate the role of SNORD116 in ribosome biogenesis.
AIM 02Assess the impact of SNORD116 loss on protein synthesis in neurons.
AIM 03Investigate the interaction of SNORD116 with co-factors like FBLL1.
AIM 04Characterize the molecular functions related to neurodevelopmental disorders.
AIM 05Explore therapeutic strategies to correct disease pathology.
Skills the Lab Values
high-throughput sequencingribosome sequencingin situ hybridizationcell culturemolecular cloning
Output against the department
Publications1bottom 1% of dept.485th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations0bottom 1% of dept.486th of 486
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.