2024 New York RNA Symposium In the Finger Lakes - Summary
By Sangeetha Selvam, PhD, The RNA Institute
The 2024 New York RNA Symposium was held on October 14-15 at the Hotel Canandaigua in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. This year's event was not only a gathering of leading RNA scientists but also the inaugural meeting of the Center of Excellence in RNA Research and Therapeutics (CERRT). This center is a New York State funded joint venture between The RNA Institute at the University at Albany (SUNY) and the Center for RNA Biology at the University of Rochester. The CERRT's mission is to drive RNA research and the development of RNA-based therapies while training the next generation of RNA workers for New York businesses. The CERRT, which was championed by Assemblymember Bronson, Fahy and MacDonald along with Senator Breslin, is supported by funding from the Empire State Development's Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). This strong support for RNA research and workforce development underscores the state's strong history and commitment to cutting-edge RNA science and technology.
Over the course of two days, more than 240 registrants gathered for an exciting and packed agenda featuring world-renowned RNA researchers, along with faculty and trainees from across New York State and beyond. Symposium attendees shared scientific findings through talks and posters which covered a wide spectrum of RNA research topics, from basic RNA science to translational RNA medicine and RNA-driven entrepreneurial startups.
Keynote Speakers – A diversity of RNA science and leadership
The event kicked off with a keynote by Dr. Karla Neugebauer, Director of the Yale Center for RNA Science & Medicine. Her talk, titled "Visualizing Nascent RNA", set the tone for a symposium focused on the latest advances in RNA biology and technology. Following her keynote, the symposium featured three additional keynote addresses, each exploring different aspects of RNA science: Dr. Eckhard Jankowsky, Vice President of RNA Science at Moderna Therapeutics, shared his expertise on the cutting-edge RNA therapeutics that are transforming the medical landscape; Dr. Sally Temple, Co-Founder and Scientific Director of the Neural Stem Cell Institute, discussed the promising potential of RNA-based therapies in regenerative medicine and neurological diseases; and Dr. Blanton Tolbert, Vice President of Science Leadership and Culture at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, addressed the future of RNA research and its critical role in scientific innovation. The symposium also featured two additional invited talks by Dr. Mitchell O’Connell, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center and Dr. Kathleen McDonough, Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, NYS Department of Health, University at Albany, SUNY. Together these speakers not only reflect the diversity and potential of RNA science and innovation, but also the significant impact of RNA research on the personal and economic health and well-being of society.
Contributed Talks and Lightning Presentations
One of the signature strengths of the New York RNA Symposium is the presentations drawn from across the diverse number of participants. This year, the symposium featured contributed talks featuring 13 trainees (graduate students and postdocs) presenting their latest findings on RNA research. Topics ranged from RNA regulation and structure to novel RNA-based therapeutic strategies, to RNA-based diagnostics.
Adding to the excitement were 28 lightning talks, where early-career scientists and trainees shared their research in a fast-paced, 90-second format. This format helps trainees learn to effectively communicate their research while providing the audience a quick glimpse of the broad spectrum of RNA research available at the symposium. This lightning session also served as a preview for the poster session held on the first evening of the symposium.
This poster session and open social featured over 110 poster presentations, where researchers presented their work in a more informal setting. These sessions provided participants with excellent opportunities for career networking, to obtain feedback from RNA experts on their projects, and to setup future collaborations between academic institutions and industry leaders.
Diversity Panel Discussion
One of the key highlights of the 2024 New York RNA Symposium was the Diversity Panel, which brought together thought leaders from academia and science to discuss the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in scientific research and leadership. The panel was moderated by Dr. Marlene Belfort, a distinguished professor from the University at Albany, and featured three panelists: Dr. Jeanette Altarriba, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Psychology at the University at Albany, Dr. V. Kaye Thomas, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology at the University of Rochester, Dr. Blanton Tolbert, Vice President of Science Leadership and Culture at HHMI and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. The panelists shared personal stories and struggles from their careers, on how they fostered diversity and inclusivity, and provided advice on how participants can help support diversity, equity, and inclusion in science. The panel emphasized the critical role of diversity in advancing science, ensuring that all voices are represented, and creating an inclusive culture that supports both scientific discovery and career development.
Awards and Recognition
RNA Society Membership Poster Awards were given to:
Debojyoti Das, University of Rochester
Victoria DeMeo, University at Albany
Alexis Dziubek, Cornell University
Michelle Mitchener, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Centre
Gabriela Valdivieso, University at Albany
Peter Zhang, University of Buffalo
Outstanding Research Poster Awards went to:
Asmar Aliyeva, University at Albany
Dadrian Cole, University at Albany
David Goich, University of Buffalo
Sakura Hamazaki, University of Rochester
Madeline Jensen, University of Rochester
Chukwudi (Humphrey) Omeoga, University at Albany
Outstanding Research Talk Awards were awarded to:
Hannah Clary, University of Rochester
Joey Tavarez, University at Albany
Andrew Veenis, Penn State University
New York RNA Symposium – Looking forward
The 2024 RNA symposium was the 10 year anniversary of the original Finger Lakes RNA symposium and the 2nd year in a row that the symposium was jointly planned by the University at Albany and University of Rochester teams. The success of the 2024 RNA symposium and the launch of the Center of Excellence in RNA Research and Therapeutics demonstrates the robust, collaborative ecosystem for RNA science and technology across New York’s academic and industry sectors. The meeting served as a launchpad for future advancements in RNA research and was a great professional development event for the many talented trainees in attendance. The symposium will return in the spring of 2026 to the University at Albany.