Monica Christina Pillon

Monica Christina Pillon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine. She leads the Pillon Lab, which explores the structure, function, and regulation of RNA processing and decay factors linked to human disease. Her research employs hybrid structural biology, biochemistry, and cell biology to study multi-component ribonucleoprotein (RNP) assemblies and their roles in disease states.

Education:

• PhD, Biochemistry, McMaster University (2014)
• Postdoctoral Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)/NIH (2021–present)

Research Focus:

• Regulation of nucleases in DNA/RNA processing
• Mechanisms of ribonucleoprotein assembly dynamics
• Role of multi-enzyme complexes in gene dysregulation
• Cryo-EM and structural biology for disease studies

Lab Highlights:

• Investigates mitochondrial RNA decay machinery and its link to diseases like neurodegeneration and cancer
• Explores SARS-CoV-2 endoribonuclease Nsp15 structure-functional relationships

Advising & Grants:

• Advises PhD student Justin Van Riper
• Funded by NIH grants for structural biology research

Labs/Teams: Pillon Lab at Baylor College of Medicine, focusing on structural biology, enzymology, and cellular mechanisms of RNA processing.