RNA Medicine Research

Advancing Research in RNA Medicine

The goal of the HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine (HIRM) is to make and translate RNA discoveries into novel therapeutics and diagnostics by fostering a climate of outstanding basic, translational and clinical research with world-leading scientists and clinicians.

About the Initiative for RNA Medicine

Directed by Frank J. Slack, PhD, the HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine harnesses the potential of RNA to revolutionize the way cancer and other diseases are treated and diagnosed. Established in 2014 as the Institute for RNA Medicine, the HIRM was designated an HMS Initiative in 2017 and brings together leading investigators in the field to pursue new lines of inquiry into non-coding RNA.

The Initiative is the home of the Non-Coding RNA Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Core Facility, a state-of-the-art pre-clinical facility at BIDMC and HMS that is dedicated to non-coding RNA. Its services include informatics, sequencing, imaging and delivery of therapeutics in vitro.

RNA, a nucleic acid transcribed from DNA, is involved with the coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. Non-coding RNA molecules were long thought to be less integral to genetic expression but in fact contribute to biological processes that are still little understood. This highly promising area of research significantly expands the known boundaries of the human genome and offers scientists new avenues to understand the causes and treatment of disease.

Cancer takes numerous forms in many different tissues, but is ultimately driven by cells that grow out of control or fail to die. Non-coding RNAs are implicated in cell growth, division, survival and migration and have revealed themselves to be promising novel targets of anti-cancer therapies. As part of BIDMC’s Cancer Center, the HIRM’s mission to translate research breakthroughs on non-coding RNA into the clinical setting benefits from a large and varied patient population, the unique BIDMC “Mouse Hospital” modeling facility, and BIDMC’s streamlined co-clinical trial platform.

HIRM researchers’ work includes the study of blood cancers, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer, and additional areas of emerging research will include Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and heart disease.

More About the Initiative for RNA Medicine

Research Initiatives

The HIRM endeavors to:

Accelerate discoveries by increasing cross-disciplinary collaboration in RNA science and providing a common home for RNA science at BIDMC/Harvard.

Capitalize on and expand Harvard’s collective expertise in RNA biology and maintain leadership in this rapidly developing field.

Foster a culture of intellectual exchange with the RNA biotechnology companies in Boston and beyond.

Build common core facilities for cutting edge RNA-centric technologies, such as bioinformatics, genetics and biosynthesis, clinical trials

Four synergistic programs at the Cancer Center are critical to its plan of accelerating the development of new cancer diagnostics and therapies:

  • Human Imaging and Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF)
  • Tumor Bank (robust samples of cancers with associated retrospective patient data)
  • Phase I/II trials possible with prospective patient data acquisition
  • Institute for Co-Clinical Animal Pharmacogenomics (ICAP)—purpose is to lower the barrier for testing clinical compounds in animal models that replicate genetic events in human disease
Advisory Boards

The HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine receives support and guidance from two committees:

Director’s Advisory Board

In consultation with the BIDMC Office of Development, members of the HIRM Director’s Advisory Board develop understanding of achievements and challenges in RNA medicine, assess effectiveness of existing initiatives, and encourage exploration of new projects. The Director’s Advisory Board provides strategic advisement and critical philanthropic support for groundbreaking basic and translational research and clinical enterprises

Business Advisory Board

This group participates in confidential technical discussions with HIRM faculty members on new approaches and discoveries about the role of RNA in human biology and disease. Business Advisory Board members guide the development of HIRM collaborations with industry partners and help shape the direction of HIRM and members' scientific and clinical research. Participation in the Business Advisory Board is by invitation only.

For more information, please email Grace Lee.

Industry Partnerships

The HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine works closely with the Technology Ventures Office at BIDMC to translate emerging scientific breakthroughs from the lab to the clinic and beyond.

Our collaborations with industry include:

  • Identification of novel targets in disease
  • Utilization of co-clinical trials in the mouse hospital
  • Mechanism and physiological relevance of targets
  • Establishment of suitable drug targets
  • Phenotypic characterization of targets
  • Development of novel mouse models
  • In vivo characterization of novel and existing mouse strains
  • Testing of novel drugs candidates
  • Focused testing of promising drug candidates in vitro & in vivo
  • Organization of clinical trials

To speak with a member of the Technology Ventures Office staff regarding the HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, please email Cindy Wong.

Videos About Our Non-Coding RNA Research

Research Contact

Learn More
617-735-2632

To get in touch with a member of our team, please call or email us.

Close up of microscope

Clinical Trials at BIDMC

Review our current research studies.

Explore Clinical Trials
Colleagues Chatting Outdoors

Make a Difference

Support our mission by donating directly to our work.

Donate Now

I'd like to...

Get Care icon

Get Care

 Find a Doctor icon

Find a Doctor

 Pay a Bill icon

Pay a Bill

 Patient Portal icon

Go to Patient Portal

 Medical Records Icon

Get Medical Records

 Careers icon

Search Careers