Simons Center for Quantitative Biology | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Sequence-function relationships, machine learning, and the biophysics of gene regulation

The Kinney Lab uses a tightly-knit combination of experiments, computation, and mathematical theory to study the biophysical mechanisms of gene regulation. Our experimental work uses massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) to measure the effects that variant gene regulatory sequences have on gene expression. We pursue this experimental work in two biological contexts: alternative mRNA splicing in human cells and transcriptional regulation in bacteria. Our theoretical and computational work develops methods for analyzing the data produced by MPRAs and other highly multiplexed assays. We aim to extract biophysically meaningful models of regulatory sequence function, but also to understand the quantitative nature of sequence-function relationships more broadly. These efforts include deploying robust software for use by the larger genomics community.

Research Focus

Massively Parallel Reporter Assays

Using high-throughput sequencing to measure how variant regulatory sequences affect gene expression in human splicing and bacterial transcription

Machine Learning for Genomics

Developing interpretable neural networks and biophysical models to understand sequence-function relationships from multiplex assays

RNA Splicing & Therapeutics

Studying alternative mRNA splicing mechanisms with applications to Spinal Muscular Atrophy, cancer, and splice-modifying drugs

Quantitative Sequence-Function Relationships

Developing mathematical frameworks for understanding quantitative sequence-function relationships

Bacterial Transcriptional Regulation

Studying the biophysics of transcriptional regulation in bacteria, using precision measurements to characterize cis-regulatory energetics in living cells

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Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724