FASEB SRC: The Post-transcriptional Control of Gene Expression Conference: Mechanisms of RNA Decay

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PROJECT SUMMARY 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. More recently, the spectacular use of RNA interference to experimentally degrade specific mRNAs has expanded the applications of understanding RNA decay mechanisms beyond any expectations. The clinical applications in the post-transcriptional regulation/RNA field are only starting to be 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 late 2019 into early 2020, RNA burst on to 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 of these examples highlight why The FASEB meeting on ‘Post-transcriptional Regulation of Gene Expression: Mechanisms of RNA Decay’ is such a timely conference to support at this juncture. 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 12th 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, which, after a two year delay due to the global pandemic, will be held June 19-23, 2022 in Jupiter, Florida, is being co-organized by three leaders in the RNA decay field, Dr. Anita H. Corbett from Emory, USA, Dr. Lori Passmore from the MRC in Cambridge UK, and Dr. Cecilia Arraiano from the ITQB/Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal. Under this leadership, we propose three specific aims: 1) Bring together the RNA degradation field and provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of the latest advances; 2) Provide an inclusive environment for establishing collaborations between researchers studying RNA degradation with different approaches and in different organisms; and 3) Encourage productive interactions between a diverse group of both junior scientists and leaders in the RNA degradation field. In keeping with a meeting goal and a common passion of the organizers, this meeting is organized with a major commitment to inclusive excellence. Among the 35 invited speakers thus far, there are 18 women (51%) and 17 men (49%). Each session is chaired by a co-chair team consisting of a senior scientist and a junior scientist. Among the 18 co-chairs, 11 (61%) are women. We are excited to include five co-chairs who are from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields (28%). The long-term goal is to continue a successful meeting series that addresses modern and timely topics in RNA decay and processing while building a diverse and inclusive community of collaborative scientists and colleagues.