SC Connecticut News

Every year, Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences hires dozens of exceptional scholars in academic departments across the sciences, humanities, and social sciences. This series profiles six of the faculty joining the FAS in the 2024-25 academic year, highlighting their academic achievements, research ambitions, and the teaching they hope to do at Yale.

For Ailong Ke—a leading biophysicist and biochemist working at the forefront of RNA and CRISPR-Cas technologies—curiosity is a driving force.

“I actually didn’t come into RNA biology or CRISPR-Cas for the sole purpose of curing disease or developing technologies,” he says. “I really just followed my curiosity, and I think this is a beautiful example that following your curiosity in science leads to something great.”

Ke’s drive to understand RNA—one of the most important molecules in our cells responsible for processes like gene expression and carrying biological information—led him to Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He joins the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry as a Professor, where he will start a new lab and continue his exploration of mechanisms underlying RNA and other nucleic acids.

“I think people who apply structural biology to mechanistic studies have a unique advantage because we basically understand our systems inside out and in high resolution—to the point that we understand how this molecular interaction works, what it means, and how we can make use of that interaction,” Ke explains. “A lot of insights there can be converted into potential applications.”

Ke looks forward to exploring those applications alongside clinicians. “For a lot of technologies, due to our limited background in medicine, biophysicists and biochemists may not know the best applications for them. And on the other side, clinicians may not know that there is a tool already invented in the lab for the diseases they want to cure.” Ke is already exploring collaboration opportunities with several clinicians on campus. “Hopefully we’ll be able to take inventions from the lab to clinics and try to benefit patients.”

The primary focus of Ke’s career has been RNA molecules. His research deepens scientific understanding of CRISPR-Cas systems: natural cellular immune responses found in bacteria that researchers can repurpose to target and modify DNA sequences through genome editing. “These systems rely on RNA as the guide,” Ke says. “So I try to understand how RNA guides processes and regulates enzyme activities. I also try synthetic biology to generate macromolecules performing tricks not invented by nature.”

RNA is at the "center stage" of research these days, Ke notes, hoping his new position will attract talent and funding for continued research advancements. The rapid development of RNA vaccines and CRISPR-Cas makes him feel like he "hit the jackpot" with his research interests.

It’s crucial to recognize potential downsides while demonstrating CRISPR-Cas's powerful potential for genome editing. “With genome editing, we’re excited but wary about its potential risk," he explains. "Nothing is 100% accurate; off-targeting by a CRISPR editing tool could be detrimental."

“But targeting serious diseases like cancer will alleviate some concerns about gene editing tools because it is very serious," he adds. Developing tools assisting cancer treatments has been significant in Ke’s lab—a project he plans to continue at Yale.

Ke is enthusiastic about teaching future scientists—a favorite part of being faculty. “Fundamentally, we’re trainers,” he says about time spent with students in labs. “We want to see future scientists flourish.” The best parts? "Interacting with trainees daily—understanding their results—and teaching undergraduates."

He has about a year to establish his lab, recruit trainees, write grants setting up strong operations over time, decide courses offered—possibly covering RNA comprehensively or classes on CRISPR-Cas.

“Yale has been stronghold in RNA biology," Ke says about his new department's strengths—a great opportunity interacting daily with respected colleagues.

Combining student work with colleague inspiration should create fulfilling roles ahead.“There’s this trend doing structural biology inside cells—in situ structural biology—allowing researchers understanding molecule locations/interactions/functions natively,” he says thinking about major developments' potentials.“This could lead exciting discoveries making structural biology forefront driving discovery—I want part.”

Work by colleagues Yong Xiong/Kai Zhang impresses Ke looking forward joining Yale community exceptional scholars.“Few topics really exciting incubating department/Yale—I want part pushing mechanistic/structural biology envelope."