The field of RNA science has catapulted to the forefront of health and medicine over the past decade as the work of scientists like Lynne Maquat, Founding Director of the Center for RNA Biology at URMC, has revealed the role that RNA plays in a multitude of diseases. Dr. Maquat is a world-renowned pioneer in the field of RNA Biology, and her work has laid the foundation for multiple lifesaving and life-improving therapies, including for diseases once thought to be incurable.
Myotonic dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, fragile X syndrome, and many other inherited disorders can be targeted with RNA-based treatments. The COVID-19 pandemic, meanwhile, highlighted the power of RNA to prevent disease as the development and deployment of mRNA vaccines saved untold lives and helped the US economy safely reopen.
At the Center for RNA Biology, groundbreaking research is transforming how we combat disease at its source. The Center has been at the forefront of RNA research for decades, long before mRNA vaccines captured global attention. Discoveries here, including the revolutionary nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) quality control system, are opening exciting new frontiers in precision medicine. Unlike traditional treatments that merely address symptoms, RNA-based therapies target the underlying causes of disease, offering more effective and personalized solutions for cancer, cardiovascular disease, cystic fibrosis, and countless other conditions.
Your philanthropic support accelerates this vital work through research innovation funds, fellowship opportunities, and state-of-the-art facilities, helping translate scientific breakthroughs into life-changing treatments.
