Leonid A. Mirny

Leonid A. Mirny is the Richard J. Cohen (1976) Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Physics at MIT, with affiliations at the Institute for Medical Engineering & Science. His research focuses on understanding the physical mechanisms underlying genome folding, chromatin organization, and epigenetic regulation. Mirny's work integrates biophysical modeling with genomic data analysis, revolutionizing insights into loop extrusion, chromosome compaction, and nuclear architecture.

Research Interests: The Mirny Lab explores how physical principles govern 3D genome organization, DNA repair, and epigenetic memory. Key areas include polymer physics, loop extrusion dynamics, and the interplay between chromatin structure and gene regulation. Collaborations with experimentalists drive model-driven discoveries in cell biology and epigenetics.

Recent Articles: Mirny's recent work addresses topics like mitotic chromosome formation, genome compartmentalization, and the role of cohesin/condensin complexes. His studies bridge theory and experiment, offering mechanistic insights into chromatin mechanics and nuclear organization.

Awards & Honors:

• 2024 Tel Aviv International Prize in Biophysics
• 2023 Simons Investigator
• 2014 American Physical Society Fellow

Grants & Labs: Mirny leads the Mirny Lab at MIT, fostering interdisciplinary research. His team includes graduate students and postdocs working on chromatin dynamics, cancer genomics, and epigenetic memory. Collaborative projects with institutions like the Broad Institute drive innovative approaches to 3D genome studies.