Demian Cazalla

Demian Cazalla is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Utah, focusing on the functional roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in gene expression regulation. He is affiliated with the Molecular Biology Program and Biological Chemistry Program, contributing to interdisciplinary research in RNA biology.

Education:

• M.Sc., University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Ph.D., Open University/MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh, Scotland

Dr. Cazalla's research investigates how ncRNAs, particularly those expressed by oncogenic herpesviruses like Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS), regulate gene expression. His lab explores the structural and molecular mechanisms of viral ncRNAs (HSURs), their interactions with host miRNAs, and their role in viral oncogenesis through miRNA degradation and mRNA targeting. Current projects involve biochemical analysis of RNA-protein complexes and high-throughput sequencing to identify RNA targets.

His recent publications highlight viral miRNA biogenesis pathways, ncRNA structural dynamics, and RNA-based regulatory networks. The work spans molecular virology, RNA biochemistry, and gene expression control in complex organisms.