Welcome to the
Silva-Fisher lab
Exploring the Wonders of RNA
JESSICA SILVA-FISHER, PH.D.
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator
Assistant Director of Support and Engagement Division of Oncology
Director Mentorship to Enhance Development in Academia
Outreach & Education Liaison Siteman Cancer Center
2024 Deans Impact Award "Sponsorship and Mentorship"
My passion for research began when I started working as a specimen collector in a Phase I Breast Cancer Clinical Trial Lab at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, my hometown. ​Around the same time, my mom was diagnosed with cervical cancer, which deeply impacted me and solidified my desire to understand how cells become cancerous and ultimately, how to prevent cancer before it starts. Thankfully, she has been cancer-free for over 18 years.
Driven by that experience, I pursued a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, with a focus on Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Mayo Clinic Feature New Chapter Story). It was there that I fell in love with RNA biology and became one of the first researchers to identify functionally relevant long non-coding RNAs in cancer cells. I now lead cross-disciplinary research programs spanning genomics, RNA biology, and translational modeling.
​I am proud to be a leader at WashU and in the broader scientific community. I’ve been honored with several scientific and leadership awards, and as a young investigator, I’ve published multiple peer-reviewed articles, including articles in Nature Publishing Group (see publications). Alongside my research program, I provide sustained leadership in mentorship, directing and participating in multiple initiatives focused on training, career development, and scientific independence. I am a proud mentor to over 40 pre- and post-graduate students and was awarded the 2024 Dean’s Impact Award for Sponsorship and Mentorship.
PRASANTH THUNGUNTLA, M.S.
Senior Research Technician
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Prasanth is a Master's graduate of Texas Tech University. He has extensive experience in molecular biology and genetic techniques. His work focuses on determining the importance of downstream regulation of how modifications located on lncRNAs can bind to proteins.
RICHA MISHRA, PH.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Vice President WiSTEM
Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Scholar
Dr. Richa Mishra received her Ph.D. in the field of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology. Her research is focused on investigating the crosstalk between long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in metastatic disease using the novel and existing promising tools of RNA biology (CHIRP, CRISPR, CLIP) and cancer biology (patient tissues, cell lines, tumoroids/tumor organoids).
DHANUSHA DURAIYAN
Bioinformatic Research Assistant
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Dhanusha has a Master of Science in Bioinformatics from Indiana University. She joined the lab in 2023 and is applying computational methods to determine the importance and mechanisms of RNAs. She is our lead bioinformatician who focuses on analyzing next generation sequencing datasets.
CATHERYN SIZEMORE
WUSTL DBBS PhD Candidate
Cancer Biology Program
Siteman Cancer Biology Pathway Molecular Oncology Training Program ​
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Catheryn obtained her bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Science of Biology and Music in Clarinet Performance. Catheryn is a student in the Cancer Biology Program. Her research focuses on understanding how RNA modifications promote tumor growth.
ELIZABETH SULVARAN-GUEL
WUSTL DBBS PhD Candidate
Human and Statistical Genetics Program
American Society of Hematology HIP Graduate Award
Student Advisory Committee, Coordinator of the Health and Wellness Branch
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Elizabeth is a student in the Human and Statistical Genetics Program. Originally from Mexico City, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Genomics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. In the lab, Elizabeth is applying her skills in computational analysis to study the roles of how RNAs bind to protein. During her free time, she enjoys reading, doing and teaching pilates, playing the guitar, singing, and exploring St. Louis with her friends.
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JESSICA CAMACHO
WUSTL DBBS PhD Candidate
​Cancer Biology Program
Ann W. and Spencer T. Olin-Chancellor Fellow
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Jessica received a BA in Biochemistry from Vassar and is an Ann W. and Spencer T. Olin-Chancellor Fellow in the Cancer Biology program. She is studying how RNA molecules can be influenced by modifications in late relapse breast cancer and cell cycle regulation.
LUKE DAVID-PENNINGTON
WUSTL Undergraduate Student
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Luke is a second year student studying Biology and Chemistry. He is working on multiple projects with a focus on aggressive cancer.​​
ASHLEY KI
WUSTL Undergraduate Student
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Ashley is a first year Cognitive Neuroscience Major and Music Minor undergraduate student at WUSTL. She is working on multiple myeloma.
ANKITH MUTHYALA
Summer CRISPR High School Student​
Ankith is getting experience in the laboratory learning about late relapse breast cancer and gaining hands on lab skills including RT-QPCR and western blot analysis.
DR. J LEGO
Scientist
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Dr. Lego is always by Dr. Bobble-Heads side. She cant wait to put down her flask.
DR. JESSY SASSY BOBBLE-HEAD
Bobble-head Investigator
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Dr. Bobble-Head oversees the lab from her high position on the shelf. Nodding away at the crazy exciting science going on in the lab.
SILVA-FISHERÂ LAB ALUMNI
STEVE DALY
WUSTL Thesis Honors Student
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Steve is now a MD-PhD candidate at the University of Cincinnati
AAK'INAA (REESE) JENNINGS
WUSTL BME Undergrad Independent Research
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Reese is a now a senior and got accepted into the FDA CCR program.
DAKOTA COLBERT ROMERO
Science Coach WUSTL Cancer Bio High School Summer student
ALANI PERKIN
Opportunities in Genomics Research Scholar (Postbac) now a PhD candidate at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine.
A'JAH GREEN
Opportunities in Genomics Research Summer Fellow
A'jah is currently an undergraduate at Hampton University.
BRIANNA DUHART
Siteman Diversity in Cancer Research Program Summer fellow
Brianna is currently a WUSTL undergraduate.
MATHEW MUELLER
Saint Louis University Summer Bioinformatic Intern
Matt received his Master's student at SLU and is now a bioinformatician at WashU.
JAIYANA KING
Siteman MOLSAMP Summer undergraduate
Jay graduated from UMSL and is now a technician at WashU.
YASH RAJANA
WUSTL Thesis Honor Student
Yash is an undergraduate student at WUSTL.
LAYAN SALMAN
WUSTL Thesis Honors  student working in Silva-Fisher lab. She started in the lab as a MARC U-STAR Summer scholar.
JUSTIN LAN
WUSTL Thesis Honors student and currently undergraduate at WashU majoring in computational biology.
YOON JAE CHANG
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Yoon Jae is a Marquette High School graduate now at Columbia University.
KATELYN BAGWILL, M.S.
Bioinformatic Research Assistant
Katelyn was a SLU intern in Dr. Jess lab in 2021 and joined the lab in June 2022. Katy is now a Bioinformatician at WashU.
VANESSA BRIZUELA
MGI OGR Summer Scholar graduate from California State Domingues Hills in the Opportunities in Genomics Research Program now at University of Arizona graduate school getting her PhD!
SAVANNAH GONZALES
McDonnell Genome Institute OGR Extensive Research Program Scholar
Savannah Gonzales recently graduated from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Bioinformatics. She was a post-bac researcher in the McDonnell Genome Institute's Opportunities in Genomics Research Program.
Currently getting her PhD at Dartmouth!
ALEXANDER MILLER, M.S.
Bioinformatic Research Assistant (now in BioIndustry)
DEANNA WELLS
WashU U-STAR Summer Program (current WashU undergraduate)
KYLA GELEV, B.S.
OGR Extended Program Fellow (now PhD candidate at UCLA)
AJ MURPHY
McDonnell Genome Institute Opportunities in Genomic Research Summer Scholar graduated from Brown University and is now a technician at University of Arkansas
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TORMEY MCMANAMAN
Washington University Diversity High School Initiative Science Coach (now High School Graduate)
JOSHUA WILSON
MARCuSTAR student is now a WUSTL graduate.
SYDNEY ANDERSON, B.S.
Opportunity in Genomics Research Extended Study Program Fellow (now PhD candidate at Ohio State)