Center for RNA Therapeutics

The Center for RNA Therapeutics at Houston Methodist is a unique academic operation that has the mission: (1) to perform rigorous research that reveals foundational biological mechanisms in RNA biology; (2) to translate that knowledge into novel RNA-based products; and (3) to assist other academic groups and small companies develop their great ideas into transformative RNA therapeutics.

The Center has invested in the personnel and resources to construct an assembly line to translate RNA discoveries toward the clinic.  The Center is enriched by scientists with skills in RNA construct design, synthesis, purification and validation; a GLP program to generate pre-clinical data for IND submissions; a cGMP team with clean rooms to manufacture clinical grade RNA therapeutics; a first-in-man clinical trials unit; and faculty collaborators in the Department of Nanomedicine who devise customized solutions for RNA delivery. Members of our program are funded by the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Defense, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and collaborations with industry partners.

The CPRIT RNACore is a key focal point of this support and is funded by a recently renewed multi-year CPRIT grant, as well as industry partnerships.  The RNACore is funded by the State of Texas to facilitate pre-clinical studies in RNA therapeutics; to generate innovative research grade constructs for the scientific community; and to produce RNA therapeutics in our onsite cGMP manufacturing facility for clinical trials.

• Senior Scientist - RNA Therapeutics