ViveRNA: Poland’s first research project in life sciences funded by an ERC Advanced Grant has just started 

– I believe that our research will facilitate the development of the next generation of mRNA therapies – says Prof. Andrzej Dziembowski from the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw. He is the first Polish biologist to receive the prestigious ERC Advanced grant. 

The project led by prof. Dziembowski began in November this year. Together with his team, they will investigate the mechanisms of mRNA processing on the cellular and organismic levels. 

The mRNA vaccinations were a game changer in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, paving the way for mRNA-based therapies and enabling their wider application in medicine. However, the metabolic processes of mRNA on the organismic level haven’t been fully understood yet, limiting the possibilities to advance mRNA-based vaccines and therapies. 

– mRNA, whether therapeutic or our own, is protected from destruction in cells by special structures that are present on its ends and called 5’ and 3’ ends. These are the cap on the 5’ end and the poli(A) tail on the 3’ end.  During the life of mRNA, the poli(A) tail is systematically shortened, and the pace of it determines the stability of mRNA – says Prof. Andrzej Dziembowski.

He points out that slowing down the process of the poli(A) tail shortening, may increase the effectiveness of mRNA-base therapies. – In our research, we have discovered an unexpected mechanism that counteracts the shortening of poli(A) tail resulting in mRNA vaccines and certain mRNA in cells becoming more stable, and thus more effective. This opens interesting pathways for research and can enable the improvement of mRNA medicines. It also became the basis for the ViveRNA project, which has just begun – adds prof. Dziembowski.

One of the aims of ViveRNA is to increase the accuracy of the method used to determine the properties of mRNA, including the length of poli(A) tails. The research will be based on stem cell culture and synthetic biology methods, among others. 

The research is funded by the European Research Council under the Horizon Europe program of the European Commission. ERC Advanced grants are regarded as one of the most prestigious in Europe. They enable groundbreaking research by outstanding scientists. Funding is awarded according to the “high risk – high gain“ principle and excellence in science is the only review criteria.

The project Principles of endogenous and therapeutic mRNA turnover in vivo (ViveRNA) led by prof. Dziembowski will last 5 years. Its budget amounts to 2,5 million euros.