RNA Innovation Seminar: Daniel O’Reilly

“An Academic Approach to Oligonucleotide Therapeutics”
Daniel O’Reilly Ph.D., MRSC

Post-Doctoral Associate
Khvorova Lab
RNA Therapeutics Institute
University of Massachusetts Medical School

Flyer in PDF

HYBRID SEMINAR:
In-person: BSRC, ABC seminar rooms
Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dM1a1aKVTM2KfwiieutOWg

Keywords: Oligonucleotides, Chemical Modifications, RNA, Huntington’s Disease

Abstract: Nucleic acids (NA) are becoming the third major pillar of therapeutic modalities on par with small molecules and biologics. The diversity of NA molecular mechanisms, ranging from vaccines, antisense, short interfering RNA (siRNAs), and guide RNA for CRISPR gene editing systems, enable impact on most aspects of cellular biology and thus human medicine. The foundation behind the recent oligonucleotides’ clinical success is fundamental chemical innovations in RNA stability, delivery, and synthesis.
Oligonucleotides are informational drugs; thus, if chemical architectures supporting safe and efficient delivery to the tissue of interest are achieved, they can be easily reprogrammed to modulate any gene expression on demand, creating an opportunity for academic institutions to drive therapeutic innovation. However, the process is limited by access to oligonucleotide chemistry and synthetic expertise.
In the first half of the talk, I will share the experience of building and running Nucleic Acid Chemistry Center in a context of a large academic institution. The NACC provides access to therapeutic quality screening leads and large manufacturing of preclinical compounds for the academic community. The impact of the NACC and chemical innovation will be discussed in the context of two significant projects. First, I will discuss the systematic structure-activity relationship study of chemical modifications to modulate RISC loading and cleavage. Screening 1200 siRNA variants allow for defining the chemical and thermodynamic rules for RISC assembly.