Xavier Darzacq

Xavier Darzacq is a Professor of Molecular Therapeutics at the University of California, Berkeley, holding the Edward E. Penhoet Distinguished Endowed Chair in Global Health and Infectious Disease. His research at the intersection of molecular biology and biophysics focuses on understanding how nuclear organization governs transcription regulation during cellular differentiation.

• Research Highlights:
  • Investigates transcriptional control via non-canonical mediator complexes in fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation.
  • Develops advanced imaging techniques (single-molecule tracking, 3D FISH) to study transcription factor mobility and chromatin interactions.
  • Proposes biophysical models where protein diffusion in the nucleus is guided by DNA/chromatin networks.

Technological Innovations: Pioneered methods for single-molecule tracking and super-resolution imaging, enabling nanoscale and millisecond-resolution analysis of nuclear processes. Collaborates with experts in biophysics, chemistry, and imaging to integrate multidisciplinary approaches.

Scientific Awards:

• Edward E. Penhoet Distinguished Endowed Chair (Global Health and Infectious Disease)
• Nature Structural & Molecular Biology – Selected Article of the Month (2007)

His lab (http://tjian-darzacq.mcb.berkeley.edu/) explores how nuclear architecture influences gene expression, particularly in wound healing contexts. Future work aims to leverage advancements in microscopy and genome editing to unravel transcriptional rules in living organisms.