# Mechanisms of RNA Decay

> **NIH NIH R13** · FEDERATION OF AMER SOC FOR EXPER BIOLOGY · 2024 · $5,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
A counterbalance to RNA synthesis, RNA degradation is critical for regulating gene expression. The
understanding that RNA degradation is critical for gene expression traces back to 1959 when Pardee, Jacob and
Monod demonstrated in a historical paper that there had to be an unstable intermediate directing protein
synthesis. Groundbreaking research over the past decades led to the identification of a variety of specific and
tightly regulated RNA decay pathways and biochemical characterization of the enzymes involved in them, both
in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. The clinical applications in the post-transcriptional regulation/RNA field
are now being realized with the initial development of Nusinersen/Spinraza® to successfully treat Spinal
Muscular Atrophy and the more recent description of Milasin® to treat a single patient through a personalized
RNA therapy. Of course, in 2020, RNA burst onto the global stage in a way we could not have predicted with the
COVID-19 RNA virus impacting life as we know it across the globe. Who would or could have guessed that RNA
could also represent a potential path back to a new normal via the rapid development and deployment of the first
mRNA vaccines. All these examples highlight why the FASEB meeting on ‘Mechanisms of RNA Decay’ is timely.
This meeting has developed into a unique conference that brings together the leading experts in RNA decay in
humans and other metazoan animals, plants, fungi, viruses, and bacteria. This meeting is the 13th is a series of
FASEB meetings on this topic where there is a long tradition of sharing key discoveries, building collaborations,
and contributing to career development for junior scientists in the field. This meeting, held August 18–22, 2024
in Lisbon, Portugal, is co-organized by three leaders in the RNA decay field, Dr. Olivia Rissland from University
of Colorado School of Medicine, USA, Dr. Alicia Bicknell from Moderna Therapeutics, and Dr. Oliver Muhlemann
from University of Bern, Switzerland. We propose three specific aims for this meeting: 1) Bringing together the
international community working on RNA degradation and providing an intellectually stimulating and mutually
supportive forum for the presentation and discussion of the latest advances in the field; 2) Providing an inclusive
and friendly environment for establishing collaborations between researchers studying RNA degradation with
different approaches and in different organisms; and 3) Encouraging productive interactions between a diverse
group of both junior scientists and world leaders in the RNA degradation field. In keeping with the meeting goals,
the organizers are committed to inclusive excellence: Among the 28 invited speakers, there are 13 women (46%)
and a well-balanced gender ratio will be ensured among the 25 additional oral presentations that will be selected
from the submitted abstracts. Also, among the 10 session chairs, six are women. We are excited to include
trainee co-c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11000389
- **Project number:** 1R13AI186420-01
- **Recipient organization:** FEDERATION OF AMER SOC FOR EXPER BIOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Olivia Selfridge Rissland
- **Activity code:** R13 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $5,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-16 → 2024-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11000389

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11000389, Mechanisms of RNA Decay (1R13AI186420-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11000389. Licensed CC0.

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