Rachel L. Flynn, PhD

Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

In the Laboratory of Genomic stability and Cancer Therapeutics we use a combination of biochemical and cell biological approaches to study the function of mammalian telomeres. Telomeres cap the ends of linear chromosomes and provide a molecular barrier for the human genome. Following each cell division, progressive telomere shortening erodes that barrier and compromises the stability of the genome. Critically short, or dysfunctional telomeres induce replicative senescence and/or cell death and ultimately, lead to cellular aging. Cancer cells, however, overcome the replicative senescence associated with critically short telomeres by exploiting mechanisms of telomere elongation. The focus of my lab is to understand the mechanisms regulating mammalian telomere maintenance and to understand how defects in this process contribute to premature aging and cancer progression. The hope is that these studies will allow us to gain the mechanistic insight necessary to define novel targets and/or strategies in the treatment of human disease.

Publications

  • Published 4/27/2026

    Leal AA, Tafrate S, He X, Bryant DL, Herring MB, Andrade M, McWhirter JB, Quiñones-Molina AA, Gummuluru S, Sagar M, Flynn RL, Leshchiner I, Henderson AJ. Bloom syndrome helicase is required for efficient HIV-1 reverse transcription in macrophages. bioRxiv. 2026 Apr 27. PMID: 42094387.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/2/2026

    Keegan J, Sorbello S, Mori J, Muratani S, Leshchiner I, Heaphy CM, Flynn RL. Functional inactivation of the telomerase chaperone TCAB1 primes cells for the activation of ALT in osteosarcoma. bioRxiv. 2026 Jan 02. PMID: 41509329.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 10/7/2024

    Flynn RL, Wright DE. The winner of the 2024 FEBS Letters Award-an interview with Rachel Flynn. FEBS Lett. 2024 Oct; 598(20):2467-2469. PMID: 39375189.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/18/2024

    Mori JO, Keegan J, Flynn RL, Heaphy CM. Alternative lengthening of telomeres: mechanism and the pathogenesis of cancer. J Clin Pathol. 2024 Jan 18; 77(2):82-86. PMID: 37890990.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/13/2023

    Zamalloa LG, Pruitt MM, Hermance NM, Gali H, Flynn RL, Manning AL. RB loss sensitizes cells to replication-associated DNA damage after PARP inhibition by trapping. Life Sci Alliance. 2023 Dec; 6(12). PMID: 37704395.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 27 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Associate Professor, Medicine
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
  • Peter Paul Career Development Professorship
    Boston University
  • Member, BU-BMC Cancer Center
    Boston University
  • Co-Director, Genome Science Institute
    Boston University
  • Graduate Medical Sciences Educator and Mentor (Primary Mentor of Graduate Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Websites

Education

  • University of Massachusetts Medical School, PhD
  • Saint Michael's College, BS

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