David Bartel

David Bartel is a Professor of Biology at MIT, a Core Member at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression, particularly through microRNAs and other small RNAs. He holds a PhD from Harvard University (1993) and a BA in Biology from Goshen College (1982).

Research Interests: Dr. Bartel studies how microRNAs and mRNA untranslated regions (UTRs) regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. His work includes uncovering the biochemical basis of microRNA targeting, mRNA stability, and translational control. Recent studies explore the structural dynamics of Argonaute proteins and the role of poly(A) tails in translation efficiency.

Awards:

• Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2011)
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2005)
• National Academy of Sciences Award in Molecular Biology (2005)
• AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize (2002)

Key Contributions: Dr. Bartel's lab has pioneered methods to predict microRNA targets and elucidate their roles in development and disease. Ongoing projects investigate RNA regulatory networks in the brain, mechanisms of microRNA degradation, and translational control during mitosis.

Labs/Teams: The Bartel Laboratory at Whitehead Institute is a hub for RNA research, collaborating on projects spanning structural biology, genetics, and computational analysis of RNA functions.