The Center for RNA Research is undertaking research to discover and study cellular functions of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which don’t make proteins. Although the majority of RNAs inside a cell do not code for proteins and hence are ncRNAs, we have limited understanding of only a handful of them. Even for microRNAs, a relatively well studied ncRNAs, their action mechanism, functions, and evolution remain largely unknown. Our research center is currently conducting research on microRNAs and other ncRNAs using cancer and stem cells as model systems. In addition, our center is running a long-term project to systematically identify novel ncRNAs and proteins that bind to them. These studies will advance our understanding of cellular regulatory mechanisms and provide a conceptual basis for the development of new therapies and diagnostic techniques.
We are a highly interdisciplinary and interactive research center, combining expertise from genetics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, biophysics, analytical chemistry, and nanoscience. We are currently recruiting young scientists with various academic backgrounds and offer them the best research environments and opportunities to exercise their knowledge and creativity.