Partner: RNA Logic
This project aims to develop a new way to improve the effectiveness of therapeutic RNA treatments by ensuring they reach the right place inside cells. Much like a postal code directs mail to a specific address, RNA molecules can contain built‑in instructions within their sequence that guide them to particular locations within a cell. These internal “address labels” help determine where and how the RNA works.
Our research focuses on identifying and designing special RNA sequences that improve the ability of messenger RNA (mRNA) therapies to deliver proteins to the cell’s outer surface, known as the plasma membrane. Targeting the plasma membrane is especially important for many medical applications, including diseases caused by faulty cell‑surface proteins, such as cystic fibrosis and certain heart conditions, as well as cancer immunotherapies that rely on immune signaling at the cell surface.
Using advanced laboratory techniques that allow us to test hundreds of thousands of RNA sequences in parallel, combined with artificial intelligence tools to analyze the results, we will determine which RNA designs are most effective at guiding therapeutic proteins to the cell membrane. By learning the “rules” that control RNA targeting, this project aims to lay the groundwork for a new generation of more precise and powerful RNA‑based treatments.