معرفی
Sean McKenna is a Professor and Associate Dean (Programs) in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Science. His research focuses on RNA-protein interactions in biological systems, combining biochemistry, structural biology, and molecular biology. He leads the McKenna Lab, investigating non-coding RNA roles in cancer and immune responses to viral infections. Key projects include studying BC200 long non-coding RNA in tumors and the regulation of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetases in viral defense. His work is supported by grants from NSERC and CIHR. McKenna has supervised over 50 students and postdocs, many now in academic and industry roles. He co-launched White Otter Biotech, advancing environmental DNA/RNA monitoring. His lab recently renovated, now housing collaborations with the Ripstein group.
Education: PhD (Biochemistry, University of Alberta), Postdoc (Stanford University), BSc (Queen's University). Awards include NSERC Discovery Grants, CIHR funding, and early-career accolades. Research spans RNA dynamics, cancer biology, and viral immunology.
Research Highlights:
- Non-coding RNA BC200’s role in tumor proliferation
- 2'-5'-OAS enzymes in antiviral immunity
- SRP9/SRP14 regulation of Alu RNA
Recent Publications: Over 70 articles, including work on Alu RNA mechanisms (RNA Biology, 2024) and BC200 processing (RNA Journal, 2024).
Awards: NSERC (2024), CIHR (2020), Jamieson Scholarship (2021).
Lab & Collaborations: McKenna-Ripstein lab merger (2024), White Otter Biotech (DNA/RNA biodiversity tech).
