Dr. Dana Segal

For her PhD in Biochemistry at McGill University and the Goodman Cancer Institute, Dana Segal studied RNA regulation in the contexts of cancer and differentiation. Using tools from bioinformatics as well as from molecular and cellular biology, she focused on interactions between long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and transcription factors—the proteins that help determine which genes are turned on, or expressed. Her doctoral work was supported in part by a generous Donner Foundation studentship, established to enable outstanding trainees to pursue research on the genetics of cancer initiation or progression at the Goodman Cancer Institute.

In her postdoctoral research at Weizmann Institute of Science in both the Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology and the Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Dr. Segal shifts from studying the functions of individual lncRNAs to more mechanistic investigation as they influence nearly all cellular processes and pathways, particularly in the context of disease. She examines chromatin‑associated vlincRNAs, a subclass of very long lncRNAs. Despite their broad impact, the mechanisms by which vlincRNAs function—and the significance of their extreme length—remain poorly understood, limiting their therapeutic potential. Using gene‑editing approaches and high‑throughput analysis, Dr. Segal is pioneering mechanistic studies of vlincRNA function and exploring how perturbations in their organization may contribute to cancer and other diseases, with the long‑term goal of informing RNA‑based therapeutics.

Outside the laboratory, Dr. Segal enjoys coordinating operations across a range of community‑focused initiatives, including electronic music events, markets that provide affordable locally sourced food to community members in need, and studios dedicated to positive, community‑oriented physical fitness.