RNA regulatory networks in translation oncology
The regulation of RNA production is a fundamental determinant of cellular identity, and its dysregulation plays a pivotal role in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Our research seeks to decode the regulatory networks that control the production of aberrant RNAs, with the ultimate goal of enabling the development of RNA-based therapies.
By integrating multi-omics approaches, advanced computational modeling, and experimental validation, we investigate the mechanisms governing exon regulation in cancer progression and therapy adaptation.This knowledge will drive the rational design of RNA-targeted therapies and establish a platform for precision oncology based on transcriptomic vulnerabilities.
Recent studies have demonstrated that aberrant RNAs can outperform traditional biomarkers in predicting patient outcomes. Yet, our understanding of how cancer cells generate functional RNA isoforms remains incomplete. The regulatory networks driving exon inclusion in mature transcripts are only partially mapped, and despite recent advances, few examples have comprehensively characterized the epi-transcriptional regulation of alternative splicing. This gap highlights a wealth of untapped therapeutic opportunities.
Emerging methodologies, including artificial intelligence, are now revealing novel regulatory layers and mechanistic insights into RNA processing and its interplay with other biological pathways across diverse cellular contexts. Given the complexity of these networks, predictive models that integrate multi-omics data with machine learning are essential to generate missing evidence and guide RNA-based therapeutic strategies.
Our interdisciplinary research bridges computational and molecular biology with translational oncology, approaching RNA production through an engineering-inspired framework. We combine generative AI with third-generation sequencing at scale to deepen the mechanistic understanding of RNA maturation in heterogeneous contexts and to expand the therapeutic potential of RNA-based interventions in the clinic.
Our goal is to deepen our mechanistic understanding of RNA maturation in heterogeneous contexts while expanding the therapeutic potential of RNA-based interventions in clinical settings.
To achieve this, we foster a collaborative environment that brings together researchers from diverse fields including engineering, bioinformatics, biology, and medical oncology that are located all around the world. We already benefit from strong national and international collaborations with leading researchers.
This research program is expected to generate functional insights into the regulatory architecture of oncogenic RNA production while providing evidence for RNA-based precision oncology.
