By interweaving nucleic acid scientists with clinicians dedicated to finding new cures, our goal is to create a new paradigm for organizing molecular research that enables the rapid application of new biological discoveries to solutions for unmet challenges in human health.
BRIDGE Innovation and Business Development at UMass Chan Medical School has committed nearly $2 million in funding this year for six UMass Chan Medical School investigator-led research projects that hold promise for translation to clinical application and commercialization. Dr. Li Li, assistant professor of RNA Therapeutics, was selected as a recipient for his project, Developing nucleoside-modified circular mRNAs as a durable and non-immunogenic platform for mRNA therapeutics. Read more»
Save the dates for our 8th annual RNA Therapeutics Symposium, June 24-26, 2026!
Onsite registration will open in November 2025!
Abstract submission is will open in early December 2025!
ScienceLIVE is an educational science outreach program for Worcester area middle schools. We provide opportunities for students to engage with our diverse postdoctoral and graduate student trainees through interactive, exciting virtual and hands-on STEM activities.
This year's Else Kröner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research goes to RNA researcher Anastasia Khvorova, PhD. The Else Kröner Fresenius Foundation is awarding the 2.5 million euro prize in recognition of Khvorova's pioneering work in the field of RNA-based therapies. Her research has contributed significantly to the development of new approaches for treating genetic and neurodegenerative diseases.
Erik Sontheimer, PhD, the Pillar Chair in Biomedical Research and professor of RNA therapeutics; Jonathan Watts, PhD, professor of RNA therapeutics; and Scot Wolfe, PhD, professor of molecular, cell & cancer biology, were awarded $2.3 million in new funding from the Rett Syndrome Research Trust to utilize base-editing and prime-editing technologies to correct mutations in MECP2.
Current treatments for Rett syndrome symptoms are palliative, but gene therapy clinical trials aimed at addressing the disease’s underlying causes are underway.
“I am cautiously optimistic there’s a good chance that these gene therapy approaches are going to be successful at making some difference. The editing approaches we’re working on have the chance to change disease outcomes even more profoundly, and perhaps enable patients to get much closer to normalcy, especially if the disease can be caught earlier,” Dr. Watts said.
Worcester, known as the “Heart of the Commonwealth” is located in Central Massachusetts
