Sandra Wolin

Sandra Wolin is a renowned biologist and physician known for her significant contributions to the field of molecular biology. She is currently the Chief of the Cell Biology and Metabolism Program at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Early Life and Education

Sandra Wolin was born and raised in United States. She completed her undergraduate studies in biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She then pursued her medical degree from Yale University, where she also completed her Ph.D. in molecular biophysics and biochemistry.

Career

After completing her education, Wolin began her career as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She then joined the faculty at Yale University, where she served for over two decades. During her tenure at Yale, she made significant contributions to the understanding of RNA biology.

In 2015, Wolin was appointed as the Chief of the Cell Biology and Metabolism Program at the NICHD. Her research at the NICHD focuses on the roles of non-coding RNAs and RNA-binding proteins in cellular homeostasis and disease.

Research and Contributions

Wolin's research has significantly advanced our understanding of RNA biology. She is particularly known for her work on autoimmune diseases, where she discovered that certain non-coding RNAs and RNA-binding proteins can trigger an autoimmune response when they are mislocalized.

Her research has also shed light on the role of RNA in cellular homeostasis. She discovered that cells have a surveillance system that monitors the quality of RNA molecules and degrades those that are defective or unnecessary.

Awards and Recognition

Wolin has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to molecular biology and medicine. She is a member of the American Society for Cell Biology and the RNA Society.