Sean Taverna

Sean Taverna is a Professor and Dean of the UAMS Graduate School, actively affiliated with the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. His research focuses on chromatin biology and epigenetic mechanisms, particularly histone modifications and their roles in gene regulation, DNA damage response, and cancer.

• Education: Ph.D. from University of Virginia (2004), B.S. from University of Texas at Austin (1995)

Research Interests:
Dr. Taverna's work explores the "epigenetic/histone code" through biochemical and cell biological approaches in model organisms like mammals, yeast, and ciliates. His lab investigates how histone marks regulate transcription, gene silencing, and DNA damage repair, and how these mechanisms relate to human diseases including melanoma and leukemia. Current projects examine connections between small RNAs and histone modifications, with a focus on therapeutic target identification.

Article Trends:
His publications span chromatin regulation, histone modification enzymes, and disease applications. Key themes include the interplay between histone methylation/acetylation, functional implications of chromatin readers (PHD fingers, bromodomains), and translational work on epigenetic inhibitors for cancer therapy.

• Laboratory: Located at Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute 11-164
• Contact: staverna@uams.edu