Seungjae Lee

2026 Regional Award Finalist — Post-Doc

Current Position:
Research Scholar

Institution:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Discipline:
Molecular & Cellular Biology

Recognized for: Identifying a novel mechanism of RNA regulation mediated by metabolic proteins with implications for improving therapeutics that work by silencing RNA of disease-causing genes. 

Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
RNA Biology, Metabolism, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics

Previous Positions:

BS, Korea University, South Korea (Advisor: Dr. Kyung Hee Paek)
MS, Korea University, South Korea (Advisor: Dr. Young Sik Lee)
PhD, Korea University, South Korea (Advisor: Dr. Young Sik Lee)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Advisor: Dr. Eric C. Lai)

Research Summary:

RNA interference (RNAi), a system that uses complementary RNA sequences to target and control expression of aberrant and disease-causing genes, is both a powerful experimental tool and a therapeutic mechanism. Molecular biologist Seungjae Lee, PhD, has uncovered a critical link between cellular metabolism and RNAi. Lee’s work unlocks both translational potential to enhance current RNAi therapies, and a new fundamental paradigm where RNA biology and metabolism are deeply interconnected. To this end, Lee has developed a suite of computational tools to explore diverse aspects of RNA expression and regulation, providing insight into neuronal transcription during aging.

“Small RNAs have emerged as a powerful new class of medicines, but increasing their activity inside cells remains a critical challenge. In my research, I have discovered that ALAS1, a metabolic enzyme previously known only for its role in heme production, unexpectedly suppresses RNA interference, a fundamental pathway used by both natural and therapeutic small RNAs. My work uncovered a previously unrecognized connection between cellular metabolism and gene regulation and demonstrated that inhibiting ALAS1 can enhance the potency of RNA-based therapies. My research continues to uncover how metabolites directly regulate RNA function, opening new avenues for treating cancer, aging, and other diseases.”

Key Publications:

1. D. Jee*, S. Lee*, D. Yang, R. Rickert, R. Shang, D. Huangfu, E.C. Lai. Human DICER1 hotspot mutation induces both loss and gain of miRNA function. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 2025.
2. S. Lee, R. Desnick, M. Yasuda, E.C. Lai. Noncanonical role of ALAS1 as a heme-independent inhibitor of small RNA–mediated silencing. Science, 2024.
3. S. Lee, D. Jee, S. Srivastava, A. Yang, A. Ramidi, R. Shang, D. Bortolamiol-Becet, S. Pfeffer, S. Gu, J. Wen, E.C. Lai. Promiscuous splicing-derived hairpins are dominant substrates of tailing-mediated defense of miRNA biogenesis in mammals. Cell Reports, 2023.
4. S. Lee, Y. Chen, FCA Consortium, A.E. Gillen, J.M. Taliaferro, B. Deplancke, H. Li, E.C. Lai. Diverse cell-specific patterns of alternative polyadenylation in Drosophila. Nature Communications, 2022.

Other Honors:

In the Media:

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Press Release – The Secret Life of ALAS1: How a Basic Science Discovery Could Pave the Way for Better siRNA Therapies

Website