Rahul M. Kohli

Rahul M. Kohli is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He holds affiliations with multiple graduate groups including Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Immunology. He is also the Co-Director of the Penn Measey Scholars in Molecular Medicine and Associate Program Director of the MD/PhD Program.

• Education: B.S. in Biochemistry, University of Michigan (1998)
• M.D. and Ph.D. (Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology), Harvard Medical School (2004)

Dr. Kohli's research lies at the intersection of chemical biology, enzymology, epigenetics, and infectious diseases. His laboratory investigates DNA-modifying enzymes such as AID/APOBEC deaminases and TET oxygenases, which introduce chemical diversity into the genome through deamination, oxidation, and methylation of cytosine bases. His team also studies bacterial SOS response pathways governed by LexA/RecA, which contribute to antibiotic resistance and pathogen evolution. These areas are central to understanding immune defense mechanisms, epigenetic regulation, and antimicrobial strategies.

The analysis of Dr. Kohli's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the mechanistic and biotechnological applications of DNA-modifying enzymes. His work spans epigenetics, genome editing, infectious disease, and cancer immunotherapy, with frequent use of biochemical assays, chemical probe development, and biological validation in microbial and mammalian systems. Key themes include the detection of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, engineering of activity-based probes for TET enzymes, and modulation of bacterial stress responses to combat antibiotic resistance.

Scientific awards and honors include:

• Penn Scholar in Molecular Medicine
• Francis C. Wood Endowed Chair, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Kohli is actively involved in mentoring through the MD/PhD Program and the Penn Measey Scholars initiative. His research is supported by extensive grants related to infectious diseases, epigenetics, and chemical biology, though specific grant details are not listed. He has contributed to high-impact collaborative studies, particularly in the development of epigenetic tools and therapeutic strategies involving TET2 in CAR T-cell therapy.

He leads the Kohli Lab, which integrates chemical, biochemical, and biological methodologies to study diversity-generating pathways. The lab focuses on both fundamental enzyme mechanisms and their translational applications in biotechnology and medicine.