Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

After two and a half years of an RNA virus pandemic and the incredible success of two RNA vaccines, there has never been a better time to appreciate the importance of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in health and disease. The 17th annual RiboWest Conference is a scientific meeting of some 130 researchers who share a general interest in the universal biomolecule RNA. In the last decade, it has become abundantly clear that RNA is a major regulator of cellular processes, implicating RNA in many diseases (e.g., cancer, viral/bacterial infection, and inherited disorders). Additionally, RNA has become an important tool, as gene silencing (RNA interference) and genome-editing (CRISPR) are commonly practiced in most biomedical research laboratories worldwide, and RNA vaccines are currently in the global spotlight. All of these facets of RNA research will be explored at RiboWest. This year, our discussion will be led by 3 outstanding keynote speakers. Dr. Karissa Sanbonmatsu, from the Los Alamos National Laboratory, is a pioneer in the use of molecular modelling to study the function of RNA. Professor Olivia Rissland, from the University of Colorado, studies the critical question of how RNA levels are regulated in the cell, particularly through RNA degradation, and is also a recognized expert on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Finally, Professor Jody Puglisi, from Stanford University, studies how RNA works by visualizing it at high resolution. The conference will include a panel discussion of how to make academic hiring more inclusive, and will solicit and support participation from all members of attending laboratories to ensure that no-one is left out. To this end, students have reduced registration fees, give oral presentations, and can win competitive awards for presentations and posters. Ultimately, the RiboWest Conference will catalyze new research, laying the foundation for the development of new treatments.