Reprogramming Stars #21:RNA Regulatory Mechanisms That Instruct Cell Identity—An Interview with Dr. Bruno Di Stefano

REPROGRAMMING STAR: Dr. Bruno Di Stefano is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, Texas, USA). His research centers on the pivotal role of post-transcriptional regulation in mammalian cell fate decisions. Cell fate transitions are essential during embryonic development and for tissue homeostasis in adults. These transitions largely occur without changes in genomic content, highlighting the importance of RNAbased regulatory mechanisms in development and lineage specification. Despite recent advances, the contribution of post transcriptional regulation to lineage specification remains incompletely understood. The Di Stefano lab focuses on several outstanding questions: (1) How do RNA condensates orchestrate the establishment and maintenance of cell identity? (2) What mechanisms guide the crosstalk between chromatin architecture and RNA processing in cell fate? (3) How do RNA modifications instruct human cell fate decisions? By addressing these fundamental questions, research in the Di Stefano lab aims to uncover general principles of cell fate control and cancer development across tissue contexts while pioneering innovative RNA-based therapeutic strategies.