Phillip Zamore

Phillip D. Zamore is the Gretchen Stone Cook Chair of Biomedical Sciences and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. He chairs the RNA Therapeutics Institute, established in 2009, and is an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His research focuses on small RNA silencing pathways, including RNA interference (RNAi), microRNA, and PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) mechanisms, with applications in developing therapies for diseases like Huntington’s. He holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Harvard University and completed postdoctoral research at MIT and the Whitehead Institute.

**Education**:

• AB in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
• PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Harvard University

**Research Interests**: Zamore’s lab explores how small RNAs regulate gene expression and repress transposons in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Key areas include the molecular mechanisms of RNAi, piRNA-mediated silencing, and translational control during embryogenesis. His work bridges fundamental biology with translational medicine, aiming to design therapies for genetic disorders.

**Publications & Impact**: With over 125 publications, Zamore is among the most cited researchers in his field. His lab’s discoveries underpin technologies like Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ RNAi-based drugs and Voyager Therapeutics’ platforms. Recent work highlights piRNA biogenesis, transposon defense, and CRISPR-Cas9 optimization for precise genome editing.

**Awards & Affiliations**: Recognitions include the Chancellor’s Medal for Excellence in Scholarship (2015) and election to the National Academy of Inventors (2014). He co-founded Alnylam and Voyager Therapeutics, serving on their scientific advisory boards. His lab collaborates globally, advancing RNA-based therapies and mechanistic insights into post-transcriptional gene regulation.

**Labs & Collaborations**: The Zamore Lab is part of the RNA Therapeutics Institute, a hub for interdisciplinary research in RNA biology. They use biochemical, genetic, and computational tools to dissect RNA pathways. Active projects include understanding PUMILIO/NANOS-mediated mRNA regulation in Drosophila embryos and developing CRISPR-based editing strategies using microRNA scaffolds.