Dr. Yuru Wang awarded an NIH/NIGMS MIRA R35 grant
The Wang lab has recently been awarded an NIH/NIGMS MIRA R35 grant entitled “Investigating the biological functions, biosynthesis, and dynamic regulation of RNA chemical modifications.”
RNA is extensively modified with diverse chemical marks, collectively referred to as the epitranscriptome. These modifications substantially increase the diversity and functional complexity of RNA molecules, adding an additional layer of gene expression regulation. However, for most of these modifications, their selective installation, functional roles, and dynamic regulation remain poorly understood. A deeper understanding of these fundamental aspects is essential for elucidating their contributions to human disease.
With support from this MIRA R35 grant, the Wang lab in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Utah will investigate the mechanisms governing the regulated installation and functions of several abundant and biologically significant epitranscriptomic marks. These efforts aim to facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets and advance the development of RNA-based therapeutics.
