📢 New funding opportunity The D2R Strategic Initiative on Cancer Vaccines will support multidisciplinary teams advancing neoantigen-based cancer vaccines toward clinical implementation, including first-in-human studies. 📅 LOI deadline: Sept. 1, 2026 (9 a.m. ET) 🔗 www.mcgill.ca/dna-to-rna/f...

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: mRNA therapy for CLN3 Batten disease led by Professor Carl Ernst (@mcgillu) 🔗 Learn more here: buff.ly/yELbB3f

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: From Bench to Bedside: RNA and AAV Gene Therapies for Diffuse Midline Gliomas led by Professor Nada Jabado (@mcgillu) 🔗 Learn more here: buff.ly/GtdyVpA

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: LNP/mRNA Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease led by Professor Anastasia Nijnik (@mcgillu) 🔗 Learn more here: buff.ly/ezQMPOB

#D2RTraineeSpotlight ✨ Trainee Spotlight: Michael Trinh (@McGillU) 👉 Read the full interview to learn more about Michael’s journey and research: buff.ly/Hi9WRgf

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: From Trial to Gene Therapy: Restoring Differentiation in IDH-Mutant Glioma led by Professor Charles Couturier (@mcgillu) 🔗 Learn more here: buff.ly/OiMiCTi

#D2RTraineeSpotlight ✨ Trainee Spotlight: Kate Bornais (@McGillU)👉 Read the full interview to learn more about Kate’s journey and research: buff.ly/muw8Ne1

Now in @natchem.nature.com: Antibodies dominate drug development—but they’re big, costly, and can trigger immune reactions. #McGill professors Hanadi Sleiman & Maureen McKeague introduce Alenomers: barcoded aptamers with antibody‑level chemical diversity, screenable at massive scale buff.ly/BKKN4zS

🧬#D2RProjectSpotlight: Switchable self-amplifying RNA: Safe, Selective, and Programmable Therapeutic Expression led by Prof. Maureen McKeague with collaborator Prof. Anna Blakney 🔗Learn more here: buff.ly/hlfhhvb

🧬#D2RProjectSpotlight: Targeting miRNAs in Embryonal Brain Tumors (@mcgillu Prof. Jacek Majewski) This project will study the molecular effects of this genome rearrangement and explore the use of microRNA inhibitors – sponges – to counteract the oncogenic changes buff.ly/309J3d2

D2R awards nearly $6M in funding to support 4 Translational Impact research projects focused on advancing RNA-based therapies for cancer and rare genetic diseases. 🔗 Learn more about these projects and the funded professors here: buff.ly/TPzPPdH

And that's a wrap on Day 1 of the #D2RSymposium2026 🎉 All of today’s sessions highlighted that the research, both within the D2R community and beyond, is full of exciting developments. Stay tuned for even more on Day 2 tomorrow!

#D2RSymposium2026 is underway! Sharing a few highlights from the action 📸 Tune into our LinkedIn for all the updates! 🧬 #RNATherapeutics

🌟 The #D2RSymposium2026 is officially underway! Today and tomorrow we will be posting highlights of the event on our LinkedIn including inspiring talks, innovative research, trainee presentations, and more in #RNAtherapeutics.💡Big MERCI to all our sponsors! buff.ly/YzOWyGL

🌟D2R is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to join our team as Associate Director, Indigenous Health Research for D2R. This role supports Indigenous-led health research, fosters strong partnerships with Indigenous communities & organizations and more! Learn more: buff.ly/zxV3Uxx

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: D2R - Health Data Science (D2R-HeDS) platform 💡 Scientific Director: Guillaume Bourque (@McGillu) 🔗 Learn more: buff.ly/qDphDDy #RNA #RNATherapy #RNAResearch

#D2RProjectSpotlight: End to end sequencing platform for RNA therapeutics quality control (EESPRNATQC) Scientific Director: Ioannis Ragoussis (@mcgillu)🔗 Learn more here: buff.ly/zhzGYc7

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: Centre for Applied Nanomedicine (CAN)💡 Scientific Director: Janusz Rak (RI-MUHC)🧬 Centre for Applied Nanomedicine (CAN) is a place/platform where specialized instruments measure, observe, and characterize myriads of small objects known as nanoparticles 🔗 buff.ly/Hv3NYJV

#BlackHistoryMonth D2R held a webinar on Anti-Black Racism in Health Research. It examined how slavery and anti-Black racism in Canada shaped inequities in health research & the systemic barriers that continue to influence scientific inquiry and health outcomes today. Watch here: buff.ly/uaYFjZA

#D2RProjectSpotlight: RNA therapies for the treatment of a rare neurological disease led by Jo Anne Stratton (@mcgillu) This project aims to understand how RNA-based therapies can be optimized to target Schwann cells, the major cell type affected in Neurofibromatosis type 2.🔗 buff.ly/QYf2Kfg

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: RNA therapeutics to block USP15-driven neuroinflammation in the brain led by Philippe Gros (@mcgillu) this project aims to test the capacity of these USP15 modalities to block neuroinflammation in vivo following delivery to the brain. Learn more: buff.ly/P0QfkgL

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: mRNA Therapy to Prevent Liver Disease Progression in Zellweger Spectrum Disorder led by Nancy Braverman (@McGillu) ZSD is a rare genetic disorder, most patients harbor mutations in PEX1 gene. This project aims to restore PEX1 function. Learn more: buff.ly/3Y93ZQY

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: Aptamer-short hairpin RNA conjugation for gene therapy against HIV led by Anne Gatignol (Jewish General Hospital)🧬This research aims to support a more effective procedure in which a person's own cells are modified to make them resistant to HIV.🔗 buff.ly/WudYn1G

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: Lipid Nanoparticles for Nasal mRNA Vaccines💡 Led by Larry Lands (RI-MUHC) 🧬 This project explores delivering RNA vaccines through a nose spray. This nasal method is not only more convenient but could offer better protection for the lungs. 🔗 Learn more: buff.ly/raSze21

On #WorldCancerDay, we are reminded why research matters. D2R supports research across many types of #cancer, because whether they affect millions or thousands, every diagnosis deserves attention. #cancerresearch #cancerawareness #knowledgetocure

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: 3’UTR engineering for next-generation T cell mRNA therapeutics led by Thomas Duchaine (@mcgillu) This project aims to improve cancer immunotherapies by designing “smart” RNA switches that control how long therapeutic mRNAs stay active in immune cells. buff.ly/iyMZTzA

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: Development of RNA therapeutics against USP15-dependent neuroinflammation led by Philippe Gros, PhD🧬This project aims to develop inhibitors of USP15 which can dampen neuroinflammation using an RNA therapeutics approach. 🔗 Learn more: buff.ly/o3CRrRl

🔊 #D2RProjectSpotlight: Targeting MET exon 14 skipping variant in the early metastatic dissemination in lung cancer 🧬 Led by Morag Park (@mcgillgci.bsky.social) this project aims a novel therapy using targeted molecules designed to block this mutation. 🔗 buff.ly/VfPel6h

#D2RProjectSpotlight: Injectable Hydrogel/mRNA-LNP Platform for In Vivo CAR-T Cell Engineering 🧬Led by Guojun Chen (@McGillu) this project aims to accelerate the development of next-generation immunotherapies buff.ly/Xa2wnaT

#D2RProjectSpotlight: Transient CAR-T Cell engineering🧬Led by Taha Azad (@USherbrooke) this project aims to produce safe & effective CAR-Ts, and help accelerate RNA-based cell therapy development buff.ly/Tsz4eBD