We are a diverse group of scientists, spanning a broad range of backgrounds and training, dedicated to advancing our understanding of human biology and disease. Our laboratory is centrally focused on understanding how transcription is regulated by epigenetic and topologic genome structure. We study this in the context of normal physiology, aging, and cancer across a variety of models. Our work utilizes advanced genomic and imaging methodologies applied to engineered cell models and primary tumor samples. We comprise biologists, physicists, physician scientists, and computational biologists in a collaborative research environment.
Lab Updates
June 29, 2026
We are so excited to welcome Victoria Feist to the Johnstone Lab! Tori is a PhD student in the Harvard BBS Program.
May 5, 2026
Caroline has been awarded a Research Fellowship from the Landry Cancer Biology Consortion! This is a wonderful recognition of her scholarship and promise as a scientist. Congratulations, Caroline!
April 12, 2026
Van has been awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship! This is a tremendous honor, and a reflection of the thoughtful and creative science Van has brought to the lab. We couldn't be more proud!
April 10, 2026
Dr. Xiangyu Liu has successfully defended his doctoral thesis -- congratulations, Xiangyu! It has been a privilege to watch you grow as a scientist, and we can't wait to see what comes next.
March 31, 2026
Van will be joining Brown University's MCB PhD program this fall. We're so glad to have had Van as part of the lab, and we know Brown is getting an exceptional scientist.
March 19, 2026
Caroline passed her PQE! We're so proud of the depth and rigor she brought to this stage of her PhD journey.
January 8, 2026
Xiangyu has cleared his final PhD requirements! A magnificent milestone that reflects years of dedication and hard work. The finish line is in sight, and we're cheering you on!
July 28, 2025
We're delighted to welcome Caroline Pitton to the lab! Caroline joins us from Harvard's BBS Program and we're excited to see the science she'll bring to the group.
April 8, 2025
Maria and Caitlin have each been awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships -- a remarkable achievement for both of them, and a testament to the quality of their science. Congratulations to you both!
March 19, 2025
Maria passed her PQE with flying colors. We're incredibly proud of how she approached this milestone, and we're excited to see her research continue to unfold.
February 3, 2025
We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Dimitrius Pramio to the lab as a new postdoctoral researcher! Dimitrius comes to us from Dr. Marcos Simoes-Costa's lab at Harvard Medical School, and brings exciting expertise to our work.
January 24, 2025
We're thrilled to announce the publication of "Rewiring Cancer: 3D Genome Determinants of Cancer Hallmarks" in Current Opinion in Genetics and Development! This work examines how 3D genome organization shapes key cancer hallmarks, shedding new light on the epigenetic and topological mechanisms that drive tumorigenesis — and pointing toward promising avenues for therapeutic intervention. Read the full paper here. A heartfelt congratulations to Maria, Christine, and Sarah for their dedication to this project.