RNA Insights

On this episode of RNA Insights, we chat with University of Texas Southwestern Professor David Corey about his cutting-edge research, the importance of passion in scientific journals, and the supportive RNA scientific community. Welcome to RNA Insights. Resources referenced in the episode: Elias James Corey Nobel Prize press release: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1990/press-release/ Peter Schultz’s laboratory: https://schultz.scripps.edu/  Generation of a hybrid sequence-specific single-stranded deoxyribonuclease: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3685986/  Charles Craik’s laboratory: https://pharm.ucsf.edu/craik  Bethany Janowski’s publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bethany-Janowski David Corey’s laboratory: https://labs.utsouthwestern.edu/corey-lab/research Episode 4: How RNA therapeutics can change the world of rare diseases with Dr. Tamar Grossman: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4TQsgVAzMq7jjJXktpbpoT?si=xoo4x4KHRwWzZ8NQZgtvVg Ionis chemical modifications: https://ionis.com/science-and-innovation  Duplexes of 21-nucleotide RNAs mediate RNA interference in cultured mammalian cells: https://www.nature.com/articles/35078107  Therapeutic silencing of an endogenous gene by systemic administration of modified siRNAs: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature03121 Spinraza press release: https://ir.ionis.com/news-releases/news-release-details/spinrazatm-nusinersen-approved-us-treat-broad-range-patients  Multivalent N-acetylgalactosamine-conjugated siRNA localizes in hepatocytes and elicits robust RNAi-mediated gene silencing: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25434769/ Episode 1: How eCLIP revolutionized RNA-based therapeutic research with Dr. Gene Yeo: https://open.spotify.com/episode/19SSHy2M9Ki8vBsqULMBZg?si=fQV6fDuTRa6FwW7v8Nprng   Nucleic Acids Research: https://academic.oup.com/nar Ono Pharma Foundation website: https://www.onofound.org/  Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society website: https://oligotherapeutics.org/  Ionis announces positive topline results from Phase 3 FUSION study of ulefnersen marking significant milestone in advancing first potential disease modifying treatment for FUS-ALS: https://ir.ionis.com/news-releases/news-release-details/ionis-announces-positive-topline-results-phase-3-fusion-study Abogen Announces Licensing and Option Agreement with Novartis to Advance mRNA-Encoded T-Cell Engager and other potential RNA programs: https://www.abogenbio.com/news/company/news2026/277.html  Positive interim data shows Roche’s sefaxersen significantly reduces proteinuria in people with IgA nephropathy (IgAN): https://www.roche.com/media/releases/med-cor-2026-09-23b   Music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay Sound Effect by Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay Eclipsebio host: Grace Finnell-Gudwien 

On this episode of RNA Insights, we talk with Deborah Day Barbara about her experience in academia, industry, and business strategy, as well as her thoughts on the rapidly growing RNA therapeutics industry. Resources referenced in the episode: Kary Mullis’s Nobel Prize: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1993/mullis/facts/ Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures: https://ventures.jhu.edu/ Gene Logic: http://www.genelogic.com Strategic Diagnostics (now SDIX): https://www.sdix.com/  Kymriah® (tisagenlecleucel) – An overview of the clinical development journey of the first approved CAR-T therapy: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10294746/  mRNA: The Fourth Pillar of Pharmaceutical Innovation and Intervention: https://www.advancingrna.com/doc/mrna-the-fourth-pillar-of-pharmaceutical-innovation-and-intervention-0001  Lipid nanoparticle-based strategies for extrahepatic delivery of nucleic acid therapies – challenges and opportunities: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168365924002438 Recent Advances in mRNA-LNP Delivery Systems for Extrahepatic Organs: A Review: https://pubs.acs.org/mpohbp/article-abstract/22/8/4474/3750518/Recent-Advances-in-mRNA-LNP-Delivery-Systems-for  ZANVASTRO™ (zilganersen) approved by the FDA as the first and only disease modifying treatment for Alexander disease (AxD) in pediatric and adult patients: https://ir.ionis.com/news-releases/news-release-details/zanvastrotm-zilganersen-approved-fda-first-and-only-disease GSK to advance mRNA seasonal flu vaccine candidate to phase III following positive phase II data: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-to-advance-mrna-seasonal-flu-vaccine-candidate-to-phase-iii-following-positive-phase-ii-data/  Valerio Therapeutics announces signing of definitive agreements for the acquisition of Etherna Immunotherapies, building a leading platform in targeted RNA, and €40.25 million PIPE financing from new and existing investors: https://valeriotx.com/valerio-therapeutics-announces-signing-of-definitive-agreements-for-the-acquisition-of-etherna-immunotherapies-building-a-leading-platform-in-targeted-rna-and-e40-25-million-pipe-financing-from-new-2/  Music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay Sound Effect by Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay Eclipsebio host: Grace Finnell-Gudwien 

On this episode of RNA Insights, we talk with Dr. Jeff Coller about discovering how codons relate to mRNA stability,  how codon optimality can help treat genetic diseases, and why science communication is essential to the field of RNA medicine. Resources referenced in the episode:Sjöberg’s research group’s website: https://www.su.se/english/research/research-catalogue/research-groups/4/britt-marie-sjobergs-research-group  Wickens’s laboratory website: https://wickenslab.biochem.wisc.edu/ Coller’s laboratory website: http://www.collerlab.org/  Co-translational mRNA decay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19701183/  Codon optimality is a major determinant of mRNA stability: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25768907/  More information on Gaucher Disease: https://www.gaucherdisease.org/about-gaucher-disease/what-is/ More information on Dravet Syndrome: https://dravetfoundation.org/what-is-dravet-syndrome/  Coller’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffcoller/ AMM ASCENT: https://mrnamedicines.org/events/2026-annual-meeting/ 4BaseBio: https://www.4basebio.com/ Opinion | The Science That Turned Lizard Venom Into GLP-1s Is Under Attack (The New York Times) : https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/20/opinion/glp1-research-science-funding.html  Merck and Moderna Announce Phase 3 INTerpath-001 Trial of Intismeran Autogene Plus KEYTRUDA®: https://news.modernatx.com/merck-and-moderna-announce-phase-3-interpath-001-trial-of-intismeran-plus-keytruda-met-endpoints-of-rfs-and-dmfs-in-melanoma Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Reports Topline Results from Phase 3 SHASTA-3 and SHASTA-4 Studies of Plozasiran in Patients with Severe Hypertriglyceridemia: https://ir.arrowheadpharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/arrowhead-pharmaceuticals-reports-topline-results-phase-3-shasta Moderna Receives U.S. FDA Approval for Influenza Vaccine mFLUSIVA: https://feeds.issuerdirect.com/news-release.html?newsid=4801915282452025&symbol=MRNA   Music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay Sound Effect by Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay Eclipsebio host: Grace Finnell-Gudwien 

On this episode of RNA Insights, we chat with Dr. Tamar Grossman about her years of experience with ASOs and rare diseases, how she navigates multiple roles at once, and how new technologies are expediting the process of developing individualized RNA-based treatments. Resources referenced in the episode: Over-expression of DSCAM and COL6A2 cooperatively generates congenital heart defects: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22072978/  Grossman’s publications: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tamar-Grossman-3 Reduction in ocular complement factor B protein in mice and monkeys by systemic administration of factor B antisense oligonucleotide: http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v23/561/ Inhibiting the alternative pathway of complement by reducing systemic complement factor B: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 studies with Sefaxersen: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0171298525000105?via%3Dihub  Gys1 antisense therapy rescues neuropathological bases of murine Lafora disease: https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/144/10/2985/6276430 La Jolla Lab’s website: https://www.lajollalabs.ai/La Jolla Lab's email: [email protected] n-of-1 clinical trial: The ultimate strategy for individualizing medicine?: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3118090/  La Jolla Labs, Inc. Announces First Patient Treated with Custom Antisense Therapy GBFsen for familial ALS: https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/la-jolla-labs-inc-announces-first-patient-treated-with-custom-antisense-therapy-gbfsen-for-familial-als  mRNA delivery systems 2.0: Engineering extrahepatic delivery for non-vaccine therapeutics: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12719227/  Harnessing RNA base editing for diverse applications in RNA biology and RNA therapeutics: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11979053/#Sec9  Women in Bio: https://womeninbio.org/  CEO Sisterhood: https://www.ceosisterhood.com/  Female Founders Fund: https://femalefoundersfund.com/  Music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay Sound Effect by Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay Eclipsebio host: Grace Finnell-Gudwien 

On this episode of RNA Insights, we chat with Dr. Kristian Baker about the relationship between nonsense-mediated decay and mRNA therapeutics as well as Baker's dual roles in research and science advocacy. Resources referenced in the episode: Ectopic RNase E sites promote bypass of 5'-end-dependent mRNA decay in Escherichia coli: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2958.2003.03292.x  In vivo-compatible proximity labeling technologies: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1367593126000165 Analysis of Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: https://currentprotocols.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/0471143030.cb2703s54  Single-Gene Disorders: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK132154/  Prime editing-installed suppressor tRNAs for disease-agnostic genome editing https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09732-2  Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay inhibition reshapes the cancer immunopeptidome: https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(26)00075-0  RNA Society Journal: https://www.rnasociety.org/about-the-society/journal/ RNA Society website: https://www.rnasociety.org/ Moderna Announces FDA Advisory Committee Votes Unanimously in Favor of the Benefit-Risk Profile of mRNA-1010, an Investigational Seasonal Influenza Vaccine: https://feeds.issuerdirect.com/news-release.html?newsid=5170330895753287&symbol=MRNA City Therapeutics Announces $99.5 Million Series B Financing to Advance Next-Generation RNAi Therapeutics: https://www.citytx.com/news/city-therapeutics-announces-99-5-million-series-b-financing-to-advance-next-generation-rnai-therapeutics  Novartis RemIND data at EAACI show Rhapsido® potential as first targeted therapy for chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU): https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-remind-data-eaaci-show-rhapsido-potential-first-targeted-therapy-chronic-inducible-urticaria-cindu  Music by Ievgen Poltavskyi from Pixabay Sound Effect by Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay Eclipsebio host: Grace Finnell-Gudwien