RNA Modifications in Health and Disease

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ABSTRACT Support is requested for a Keystone Symposia conference entitled RNA Modifications in Health and Disease, organized by Drs. Eric Miska, Ramesh S. Pillai and Eva Maria Novoa Pardo. The conference will be held in Banff, Canada from December 12-15, 2023. Chemical modifications of RNA nucleotides, collectively referred to as the epitranscriptome, represent an additional layer of information encoded in transcribed RNA sequences. By analogy to epigenetic mechanisms, RNA modifications are reversibly added by ‘writer’ and ‘eraser’ enzymes and these ‘marks’ are interpreted by ‘reader’ proteins. Characterization of the structural diversity of RNA modifications and elucidation of their roles in biological pathways represent central motivations of this emerging field, which has been supported by new technology development and mechanistic analysis by scientists interested in RNA biology. Basic discoveries in epitranscriptomics are being translated toward the clinic at an accelerating rate. Our understanding of the function and regulation of RNA modifications, as well as their roles in human infection, immunity and disease is deepening in parallel with the advancement of RNA-based medicines, such as mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines or antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). This conference will bring together leading experts focused on RNA modifications, technology development and medicine to discuss cutting edge research, evaluate data standards in the field and identify opportunities for the translational potential of targeting RNA modification pathways. We anticipate that participants of this conference will benefit by sharing results on this rapidly advancing topic, but also in defining the future direction of the field and creating new collaborations to accelerate progress.