Annual Meeting

Processing and translating RNA in health and disease

Katrin Karbstein Jeremy Wilusz
By Katrin Karbstein and Jeremy Wilusz
Sept. 20, 2023

The field of RNA biology has yielded some of the most widely popularized scientific findings in the last two decades. Not only are many researchers using siRNAs and CRISPR on a daily basis, but we wonder how we ever could have not known about their existence. Yet, these are only the tip of the iceberg of exciting RNA-dependent regulation in biology that will be addressed in depth in this session.

Tracing the life of an RNA, including how it is transcribed, processed and spliced in the nucleus in association with chromatin is one focus. A second topic will be around translation into protein, with a particular focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms, ribosome specialization and gene-specific effects. Finally, several talks will discuss how these RNA regulatory mechanisms are dysregulated in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

Submit an abstract

Abstract submission begins Sept. 14. If you submit by Oct. 12, you'll get a decision by Nov. 1. The regular submission deadline is Nov. 30. See the categories.

These studies, presented by leading experts in RNA biology, will provide not just a global overview of an increasingly important field, with enormous potential for future discoveries, but also explain why RNA is considered one of the most promising drug targets and platforms. If you want to be ready for the next CRISPR, you will attend this session.

Keywords: Ribosomes, translation, RNA processing, RNA and disease, splicing, chromatin, CRISPR and immunity.

Who should attend:  Students and postdocs who want to hear about one of the most rapidly expanding fields in biology, educators who want to make sure what they are teaching is current and curious people who want to know what all the hype is about. And, of course, RNA junkies who can’t get enough.

Theme song:  “Friend Like Me” from “Aladdin,” because RNA can do it all.

This session is powered by ATP and other ribonucleotides

RNA biology

RNA biogenesis and processing

Chair: Olga Anczukow

Tracy L. JohnsonUniversity of California, Los Angeles

Hiten D. MadhaniUniversity of California, San Francisco

Jeremy E. WiluszBaylor College of Medicine

Joshua T. MendellUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Ribosomes and translation

Chair: Katrin Karbstein

Shu-ou ShanCalifornia Institute of Technology

Ruben L. GonzalezColumbia University

Homa GhaleiEmory University

Amy S.Y. LeeDana–Farber Cancer Institute; Harvard Medical School

RNA and disease

Chair: Jeremy E. Wilusz

Blake WiedenheftMontana State University

Shuying SunJohns Hopkins University

Olga AnczukowJackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine

Katrin KarbsteinUF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
Katrin Karbstein
Katrin Karbstein

Katrin Karbstein is a professor at UF Scripps in Jupiter, Florida, where she also works on education outreach and diversity, equity and inclusion issues.

Jeremy Wilusz
Jeremy Wilusz

Jeremy Wilusz is an associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine.

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in Science

Science highlights or most popular articles

How signals shape DNA via gene regulation
Journal News

How signals shape DNA via gene regulation

Aug. 19, 2025

A new chromatin isolation technique reveals how signaling pathways reshape DNA-bound proteins, offering insight into potential targets for precision therapies. Read more about this recent MCP paper.

A game changer in cancer kinase target profiling
Journal News

A game changer in cancer kinase target profiling

Aug. 19, 2025

A new phosphonate-tagging method improves kinase inhibitor profiling, revealing off-target effects and paving the way for safer, more precise cancer therapies tailored to individual patients. Read more about this recent MCP paper.

How scientists identified a new neuromuscular disease
Feature

How scientists identified a new neuromuscular disease

Aug. 14, 2025

NIH researchers discover Morimoto–Ryu–Malicdan syndrome, after finding shared symptoms and RFC4 gene variants in nine patients, offering hope for faster diagnosis and future treatments.

Unraveling cancer’s spaghetti proteins
Profile

Unraveling cancer’s spaghetti proteins

Aug. 13, 2025

MOSAIC scholar Katie Dunleavy investigates how Aurora kinase A shields oncogene c-MYC from degradation, using cutting-edge techniques to uncover new strategies targeting “undruggable” molecules.

How HCMV hijacks host cells — and beyond
Profile

How HCMV hijacks host cells — and beyond

Aug. 12, 2025

Ileana Cristea, an ASBMB Breakthroughs webinar speaker, presented her research on how viruses reprogram cell structure and metabolism to enhance infection and how these mechanisms might link viral infections to cancer and other diseases.

Understanding the lipid link to gene expression in the nucleus
Profile

Understanding the lipid link to gene expression in the nucleus

Aug. 11, 2025

Ray Blind, an ASBMB Breakthroughs speaker, presented his research on how lipids and sugars in the cell nucleus are involved in signaling and gene expression and how these pathways could be targeted to identify therapeutics for diseases like cancer.