Lela Lackey

Lela Lackey is an Assistant Professor at Clemson University's Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, part of the College of Science. Her research focuses on RNA structure and its impact on gene expression, particularly in diseases like COPD and genetic disorders. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Minnesota (2012) and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry from North Carolina State University (2005).

Her work explores how RNA structural elements regulate alternative splicing, polyadenylation, and translation, with applications to lung disease mechanisms and protein misfolding. She employs advanced RNA structure probing techniques like SHAPE-MaP and bioinformatics to predict variant effects on splicing. Lackey's lab is located at the Greenwood Genetic Center in Self Regional Hall, where she conducts studies on APOBEC enzymes, riboSNITCH mechanisms, and the functional implications of RNA structural variations.

While no scientific awards are listed, her research has been published in top-tier journals and includes collaborations on A1AT protein expression, MAPT gene splicing, and α1-antitrypsin regulation. She advises no listed students but contributes to graduate training through her department. Grants and lab activities focus on structural biology, RNA processing, and translational medicine.