Xiaojun Ren

Xiaojun Ren is the Irwin Belk Distinguished Scholar of Biology and an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms, genome organization, and single-molecule imaging, particularly investigating how Polycomb proteins and phase-separated condensates regulate gene expression and chromatin dynamics. He leads a lab exploring transcriptional condensates' roles in metastasis and epigenetic regulation.

Dr. Ren's work integrates advanced live-cell imaging techniques, such as single-molecule tracking and phase separation analysis, to study molecular interactions in living cells. His contributions include pioneering methods like Sm-ChIPi (Single-Molecule Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Imaging) for chromatin analysis.

Key research areas include understanding how Polycomb repressive complexes assemble via phase separation, mechanisms driving metastasis through transcriptional condensates, and the dynamics of epigenetic regulatory factors. His studies span from fundamental molecular biology to translational cancer biology.

• Scientific Awards: Irwin Belk Distinguished Scholar of Biology

His lab's findings have advanced understanding of chromatin architecture, epigenetic regulation, and the functional implications of nuclear condensates in health and disease. Current projects investigate the interplay between phase separation and gene regulation, with potential applications in cancer therapy and stem cell biology.