Research interests

The Ahern lab uses chemical biology and chemical genetics to study protein function in vitro and in vivo. In one avenue of science, we synthesize and genetically encoded unnatural amino acids to study function and pharmacology in membrane proteins. We also serve as a chemical biology hub to enable these types of studies with other NIH investigators. We have also recently performed a screen of hundreds of engineered tRNA molecules for their ability to rescue premature stop codons that are the cause of thousands of rare diseases. We are currently working with the Simons Foundation and patient groups to advance this work for neurological disorders and genetic blindness. Lastly, we’ve pioneered in vivo models whereby electrical signaling networks can be precisely modulated by small molecules. This work aims to advance the basis for cardiac remodeling and arrhythmia. Overall, we wield the power of chemical biology to advance the basis for human health and disease.