Ian M. Willis

Ian M. Willis is a Professor in the Departments of Biochemistry and Systems & Computational Biology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His research focuses on RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcription, its regulation by Maf1, and its roles in health and disease. His work spans molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Pol III-related leukodystrophies, obesity resistance in Maf1 knockout mice, and metabolic programming linked to Pol III activity. Willis employs yeast and mouse models to investigate genetic, biochemical, and structural aspects of Pol III function.

Research highlights include the development of mouse models mimicking Pol III-related leukodystrophy, revealing mechanisms of hypomyelination and neurodegeneration. His team also discovered that Maf1 deletion enhances energy expenditure, conferring resistance to diet-induced obesity. Key tools used include genetic manipulation, metabolomics, and structural biology approaches.

Publications emphasize molecular insights into Pol III regulation, including the structural basis of Maf1-mediated repression and Pol III's role in bone mass regulation. Collaborative studies with the CycliX Consortium identified circadian-clock and feeding-fasting controls over Pol III transcription. Current efforts include preclinical therapies for leukodystrophies and exploring MAF1's potential in obesity treatment.

Willis's grants and advising activities are not explicitly listed here, but his lab's interdisciplinary approach integrates genetics, biochemistry, and systems biology to address fundamental and translational questions in metabolism and neurodegeneration.