The University of Michigan Center for RNA
Biomedicine brings together RNA scientists …
… whose passion and research are
at the frontier of RNA discoveries.
University of Michigan
Co-Director
Center for RNA Biomedicine
Mats Ljungman, Ph.D.Co-Director
Center for RNA Biomedicine
Nils Walter, Ph.D.Clinical Director
M-RNA Therapeutics
Peter Todd, M.D., Ph.D.Director
M-RNA Therapeutics
Michelle Hastings, Ph.D.
RNA Therapeutics
Michigan Medicine

The University of Michigan Center for RNA Biomedicine brings together RNA scientists, whose passion and research are at the frontier of RNA discoveries.

About Us

Our vision is to build a synergic community and empower collaborations between RNA researchers to help streamline the discovery of novel, individualized disease targets; and establish a system of in-house RNA production that would enable U-M investigators to produce and screen therapeutics rapidly and cost-effectively.

What is RNA?

What is RNA’s role in the cell and in diseases?

Publications

We are pleased to announce the publication of our third annual magazine and report, RNA Translated. The 2024 issue focuses on our groundbreaking efforts to build a University of Michigan “M-RNA Therapeutics” initiative for “changing tomorrow’s world of medicine, today.” The second half of the magazine highlights the main activities of the Center for the 2023 calendar year.

Core Facilities

President Ono Launches the 2024 Symposium

Annual Symposium

The Center for RNA Biomedicine symposia bring together national leaders of the scientific, medical and engineering communities working on recent advances of our understanding of RNA. It provides means of exchanging new ideas across disciplines, spurring new collaborations nationwide, while supporting a rapidly growing RNA community at the University of Michigan.

RNA Innovation Seminar Series

The Center offers bi-weekly RNA Innovation Seminars that feature visiting professors, U of M faculty, and students. The seminars cover a broad array of topics about RNA research and its application. In addition to learning about the latest research in the field, it is an opportunity to meet colleagues, network, and foster collaborations.

Become a member

We are a hub for RNA research across a wide range of scientifice and medical disciplines at the University of Michigan.

Media

Inaugural Symposium Video Highlights
Who We Are, What We Do and Why
Co-Director Nils Walter on RNA and Life on Earth
On Your Mark, Set… Grant Sprints!

Recent News

RNA Featured Researcher – Mason Myers
Featured Researchers | Publication Highlights
RNA Featured Researcher – Mason Myers

Mason MyersPh.D. StudentDepartment of Biological Chemistry, University of MichiganMedical School Yan Zhang Lab About Mason Mason Myers is the Nick Fury of the science world. A combination investigator, mediator, orchestrator, instigator, and peacemaker between two warring factions: bacteria, (Iron Man and fellow Avengers) and viruses, (Thanos and his thugs.) But it was another pop culture…

U-M Researchers Collaborate on $3 Million Grant to Treat Rare Forms of Cystic Fibrosis
News
U-M Researchers Collaborate on $3 Million Grant to Treat Rare Forms of Cystic Fibrosis

Center RNA Therapeutics Director Michelle Hastings, and faculty members Rachel Niederer and Alexandra Piotrowski-Daspit address the need for new treatment strategies, and the subsequent barriers that must be overcome for success, by working together as an interdisciplinary team with unique expertise in CFTR physiology, designing RNA therapeutics, identifying targetable regulatory sequences, and developing engineered delivery…

Center co-director, Dr. Mats Lungman’s KLIPP system for CRISPR-Cas 9 featured in informative SciTube video
News
Center co-director, Dr. Mats Lungman’s KLIPP system for CRISPR-Cas 9 featured in informative SciTube video

Enjoy this video which details KLIPP, a “split enzyme” system pioneered by Center for RNA Biomedicine co-director, Mats Ljungman, Ph.D. During the KLIPP process, two non-functional Cas9 enzymes fused to Fok1 enzymes are brought together by a pair of guide RNAs. These guide RNAs specifically target sequences near structural variant junctions unique to cancer cells….