Professor Thomas Begley Awarded Williams-Raycheff Endowed Professorship

State University of New York (SUNY) Distinguished Professor and Associate Director of the RNA Institute Thomas Begley has been honored with Williams-Raycheff Endowed Professorship, recognizing his pioneering work on RNA biology, big data analysis and his leadership in training the next generation of RNA researchers.

“Tom is a major reason for the success of the RNA Institute and essential for the NIH-supported PhD RNA Fellows program and for building our partnerships with industry” says Andy Berglund, Director of the RNA institute.

Begley leads a research program exploring how organisms and tissues respond to stress, which is an underlying cause of many diseases. He says his passion for science stems from the thrill of solving puzzles. His lab investigates how chemical or environmental stressors alter RNA molecules to regulate gene expression and cell function, with applications in aging, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. By combining molecular biology with advanced technologies and computational tools, his research group analyzes 100,000s of RNAs to pinpoint new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. 

“Tom has made huge contributions to our knowledge of DNA damage and RNA modifications in response to stress. He has been an outstanding contributor to the success of the biology department and the RNA Institute and so it is great to see him being honored with this endowed professorship!” says Mindy Larsen, Chair of the department of biological sciences.

As a Director of the RNA Fellows doctoral training program, Professor Begley has been instrumental in shaping the academic and professional pipeline of the RNA fellows. The RNA Fellow program is supported by the NIH and The Graduate School at UAlbany, and it brings together students from multiple departments including biological sciences, chemistry, biomedical sciences, and nanoscale science and engineering. RNA Fellows study a unified RNA science and technology curriculum and through their PhD research are advancing the study of RNA to improve human health and society.

"It’s really wonderful to see a colleague flourish over decades.  I first met Tom when he joined UAlbany more that 20 years ago, and was I immediately impressed by this bright young scientist. We started working together seriously more recently on the RNA Training Program for PhD students, for which I was seeking external funding, but it was Tom who carried the grant application over the NIH finish line. And after directing the program for 5 years, Tom succeeded in getting an NIH renewal for another 5 years, with more training slots. He’s a gifted scientist and a marvelous colleague and I can think of no-one more deserving for the Williams-Raycheff endowed professorship.” says Marlene Belfort, Senior Advisor of the RNA Institute.

Begley’s leadership has helped create a training environment where the fellows develop both advanced technical expertise and translate their discoveries into real-world impact through an entrepreneurial track. 

“Dr. Thomas Begley has been a long-time collaborator, friend, and mentor to me and to many students. His excitement and love of science are truly infectious,” says Andres Melendez, Professor and Chair of the department of nanoscale science and engineering. “I’ve often taken notes from his playbook to not only to strengthen my own mentoring of students but also to better navigate the world of academic medical research. He has been a trusted colleague and true friend, someone I continue to turn to for advice and for exchanging scientific and academic ideas. Tom’s work remains at the forefront of cutting-edge discoveries in RNA biology and toxicology, and this recognition is a well-deserved honor.”

“It is wonderful to see that Tom has received prestigious appointment,” says Richard Cunningham, Professor in the department of biological sciences. “I have known Tom since he was a UAlbany undergraduate research student in my lab many years ago. He joined my lab as a PhD student and wrote an outstanding dissertation. He then went to Harvard and MIT as a post-doc. UAlbany was very fortunate to hire him as an assistant professor when he finished his post-doctoral studies. Tom is an outstanding researcher and has served UAlbany very well in a number of roles and is highly deserving of the appointment as Williams-Reycheff Endowed Professor.”

Reflecting on the recognition, Begley shared, “I am deeply honored to be named the Williams-Raycheff Endowed Professor at UAlbany. I am incredibly grateful to my mentors, colleagues, students, and family for their unwavering support and contributions throughout my career” says Begley. “The RNA Institute and department of biological sciences have been outstanding places for scholarship and research, and I am thankful to the leadership and associated communities. Further, my training in the department of biological sciences back in the 1990’s has been the cornerstone of my career in science. I can only hope to pay it ahead and look forward using the endowed professorship to further the training, scholarship and education of students here at UAlbany.”