DIAO LAB AT DUKE
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Decoding the regulatory role of non-coding genome sequence.
More than 98% of the human genome are non-coding sequence and vast majority (~93%) of human disease and traits associated risk variants lie in these non-coding regions. These non-coding regions, that were previously considered as non-essential and called as “junk DNA” or “dark matter” in the genome, are now recognized as important for controlling spatiotemporal gene expression. A growing body of evidence indicates in many cases that the genetic and epigenetic variants underlying the non-coding regulatory sequences, such as enhancer, insulator, and repressive elements, contribute to human diseases. Yet, we know little about the consequences and mechanisms of how cis-regulatory element and disease-associated non-coding variations regulate development, tissue regeneration, degenerative disorders, and cancer. Our lab will develop and apply innovative high-throughput functional genomics and genome editing tools that allow us to investigate how the “junk DNA” interplay with transcription factors and epigenetic mechanism to control gene regulation.

Contacts
307 Research Drive, 
373/366 Nanaline Duke Building,
​Duke University Medical Center, Box 3709,
Durham, NC 27710
Email: diaolab@duke.edu
Telephone: 919-684-7090
Fax: 919-684-8090

If you are a PhD student and interested in genomics technology development, gene regulation, high-throughput CRISPR, stem cell biology, regeneration, cancer research, bioinformatics and computational biology, please contact us to set up a rotation!
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