Christopher Burge

Christopher Burge is the Uncas (1923) and Helen Whitaker Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research (KIICR) and the Broad Institute. He holds roles as CSB Program Director and Associate Member of the Broad Institute. His research integrates experimental and computational approaches to study RNA splicing regulatory codes, RNA-binding proteins, and post-transcriptional gene regulation in biological systems. He earned a BS (1990) and PhD (1997) in Biological Sciences from Stanford University.

Research interests focus on understanding how RNA splicing is regulated across cell types, including the role of RNA-binding proteins and 3'UTR functions in mRNA localization and microRNA regulation. Key contributions include mapping RNA-binding protein affinity spectra and linking them to in vivo activity. His work bridges computational modeling with experimental validation, addressing fundamental biological mechanisms.

Recent publications highlight advancements in identifying disease-associated genetic variants, RNA-protein interaction dynamics, and species-specific regulatory mechanisms. Notable awards include the Schering-Plough Research Institute Award (2007) and Overton Prize for Computational Biology (2001). His lab's interdisciplinary approach addresses complex questions in gene regulation and molecular biology.