Megan C. King

Megan C. King is Professor of Cell Biology and of Molecular, Cellular and Development Biology at Yale School of Medicine, and holds an Associate Professor appointment in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology. She serves as Co-Leader of the DNA Damage and Genome Integrity program and Associate Cancer Center Director for Basic Science at Yale Cancer Center. Her research is conducted through the LusKing Lab, which she co-leads with Dr. C. Patrick Lusk.

• Brandeis University (BA, Biochemistry, 1997)
• University of Pennsylvania (PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, 2004)
• Rockefeller University (Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2009)

Dr. King's research focuses on fundamental aspects of nuclear structure, dynamics, and integrity, with particular emphasis on macromolecular complexes embedded in the nuclear envelope that physically couple the cytoskeleton to the nucleus (LINC complexes). Her lab investigates the nuclear force response mechanisms and how direct force transduction to the nuclear lamina impacts cell function using fission yeast, cell culture, and mouse models. Additionally, her team studies genome organization through chromatin dynamics and examines how nuclear cell biology affects genome integrity. Her work bridges basic science with medical applications, particularly in understanding DNA repair mechanisms relevant to cancer biology.

Analysis of Dr. King's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a consistent focus on nuclear envelope biology, chromatin dynamics, and genome integrity. Her research integrates advanced microscopy techniques, computational modeling, and molecular biology approaches to study nuclear mechanics. Key themes include LINC complex function, nuclear pore complex architecture, chromatin organization through loop extrusion mechanisms, and nuclear autophagy pathways. Her work demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary collaboration, combining cell biology with biophysics, computational modeling, and cancer research.

• Allen Distinguished Investigator (2020) from Frontiers Group/Allen Institute
• NIH New Innovator Award (2011)
• Searle Scholar (2011)

Dr. King leads an active research group within the LusKing Lab, providing training for scientists at all levels. Her lab emphasizes creating a supportive environment that equally values scientific discovery and professional development. She has received significant funding including the NIH New Innovator Award and Allen Distinguished Investigator funding, which support her innovative research at the interface of basic and medical science. Dr. King is also committed to scientific outreach, mentorship, and creating inclusive research environments, as evidenced by her publication on rethinking undergraduate research volunteerism.

The LusKing Lab operates within Yale's Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine and maintains strong connections with multiple research programs including the DNA Damage and Genome Integrity program at Yale Cancer Center, the Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics and Development track, and the Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences. The lab fosters interdisciplinary research at the intersection of cell biology, biophysics, and cancer research, with particular emphasis on developing new methodologies for studying nuclear structure and function.