RNA Canada

Announcing New RNA Canada ARN Board Members! - RNA Canada ARN Thanks to everyone who participated in Monday's RNA Canada ARN 2026 Annual General Meeting! It was wonderful to see so many friendly faces from our community gathered together; your support is what dr...

Congratulations to our new board members elected at yesterday's AGM:

Ontario Representative: Julie Claycomb
Québec Representative: Sherif Abou Elala
At-large Representatives: Steve Whyard (Prairies), Pascale Legault (Québec), John Calarco (Ontario)

www.rnacanada.ca/announcing-n...

RNA Canada ARN 2026 AGM: January 12th from 12:30 - 2:30 ET via Zoom - RNA Canada ARN Dear RNA Canada ARN Members, The 2026 RNA Canada ARN Annual General Meeting will be held MONDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 2026 FROM 12:30-2:30PM ET via Zoom. A Zoom link and agenda have been sent to RNA Canada A...

Reminder: Our annual general meeting will be held this upcoming Monday, January 12th from 12:30-2:30! Members should have received an agenda for this meeting as well as the Zoom link for this meeting by e-mail.

www.rnacanada.ca/rna-canada-a...

RNA Canada ARN 2026 AGM: January 12th from 12:30 - 2:30 ET via Zoom - RNA Canada ARN Dear RNA Canada ARN Members, Please SAVE THE DATE for our 2026 RNA Canada ARN Annual General Meeting, to be held MONDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 2026 FROM 12:30-2:30PM ET via Zoom. A Zoom link and additional in...

Save the date for our annual general meeting on January 12th, 2026 via Zoom! See the link below for more details👇

www.rnacanada.ca/rna-canada-a...

Extended Deadline to Dec 8: Nominations for Directors on the Board of RNA Canada ARN - RNA Canada ARN The Nomination Committee of RNA Canada ARN has extended the nomination deadline for positions on the Board of Directors to December 8th. The Nomination Committee of RNA Canada ARN is seeking qualified...

RNA Canada ARN is seeking candidates for election to its Board of Directors. Five seats on the Board of Directors will be elected in January 2025: Two regional Directors – from Ontario and Quebec– and three at-large Directors from any geographical region of Canada. If you know a candidate 👇

RNA Canada ARN Education Series | Perspectives on RNA: Nucleic Acid Therapeutics and Delivery – RNA Canada ARN

www.rnacanada.ca/etn/rna-cana...

Next week! New Perspectives on RNA session on RNA-based therapeutics

Featuring
Elisabeth Gardiner, Ph.D. — CSO, Tevard Biosciences
@hastingslab.bsky.social — Professor University of Michigan
@omarfkhan.bsky.social — Assistant Professor, University of Toronto

Since 2019, Maria has been leading her laboratory at McGill University, where she explores the links between RNA, protein chaperones, and neurodegenerative diseases. @d2rmcgill.bsky.social

Localized molecular chaperone synthesis maintains neuronal dendrite proteostasis - Nature Communications How neurons manage protein folding in their projections remain unclear. Here, the authors find that stressed neuron dendrites rely on an on-demand supply of chaperones, driven by the localization and translation of mRNAs encoding these proteins.

Her team has revealed a new mechanism essential to the survival of neurons under stress. Published in Nature Communications, her work opens new avenues for better understanding and eventually treating neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

For their first edition, the Moderna–RNA Canada RNA Awards recognized three inspiring figures in #RNA research and engagement. Discovery of the Year: Understanding how neurons survive stress - Award presented to Prof. Maria Vera Ugalde, McGill University - at the annual Riboclub meeting.

More on the awardees coming soon!

And last but not least, the Volunteer of the year award was presented to graduate student powerhouse Laurence Faucher Giguère from Université de Sherbrooke for her outstanding contributions to the Riboclub and RNA Canada.

The Trainee of the year award goes to Jack Li from University of Toronto for his development of CRISPR tools to study RNA splicing

The Discovery of the year award was presented to Maria Vera Ugalde from McGill University for her research group's seminal 2025 paper on stress response in neurons.

We are incredibly proud to be presenting for the first year the Moderna-RNA Canada Awards. These awards recognize groundbreaking research and contributions to the vibrant RNA community in Canada.

Another successful edition of the Riboclub is almost finishing. This year was a special year in Orford after last year's meeting in Ottawa.

Researcher Highlight: Natoya Peart - RNA Canada ARN Dr. Natoya Peart did her undergraduate degree at Yale University where she majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. She followed that up with a doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology...

Before we start full-on Riboclub posting, we'd like to encourage you to read our latest researcher profile, on University of Waterloo professor Natoya Peart!
A story of perseverance and love for RNA. www.rnacanada.ca/researcher-h...

Microscopic view of green and orange algae cells with invitation text to visit Biochemistry and Cell Biology department.

Headed to Magog for the Riboclub 2025 Annual Meeting later this month! Excited to hear what’s new in RNA biology and connect with colleagues from across Canada and beyond. Come say hi! @rnacanada.bsky.social #BiologyConference #RNABiology

Researcher Highlight: Karine Choquet - RNA Canada ARN Originally from Ottawa, Dr. Choquet did her undergraduate degree in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the Université de Montréal and her Ph.D. in Human Genetics in the labs of B...

Read our most recent researcher highlight on Dr. Karine Choquet, assistant professor at Université de Sherbrooke and an expert on RNA splicing and maturation! www.rnacanada.ca/researcher-h...

Unsupported client – Canva Unsupported client – Canva

An agricultural/siRNA themed escape game, created by students Angelica Santacroce, Connor O’Dell, Mofeedah Rahman and Rebecca Borisenko. In this game, the player takes on the role of a scientist helping farmers protect their crops using siRNA technology!
www.canva.com/design/DAGhR...

The first one is an RNA virus themed escape game, created by students Simran Mody, Anahita Mehdipour, Shania Coutinho, Elisha Alon, and Josephine Bennett. The player takes on the role of a norovirus attemting to escape the immune system! norovirus.wixstudio.com/norovirus-es...

RNA Canada ARN Online Escape Games! - RNA Canada ARN RNA Canada ARN is thrilled to share two RNA-themed escape games, created in collaboration with students at the University of Toronto at Scarborough, as part of their coursework with Dr. Aarthi Ashok. ...

RNA Canada ARN is thrilled to share two RNA-themed escape games, created in collaboration with students at the University of Toronto at Scarborough, as part of their coursework with Dr. Aarthi Ashok! www.rnacanada.ca/rna-canada-a...

Scientists from Canada and all over the world recently convened at the University of Lethbridge for the annual RiboWest conference (June 8th to 11th). Read our wrap up written up by Mark Bayfield, Jessica Willi, & @trushar7.bsky.social
www.rnacanada.ca/ribowest-202...

Poster of the event entitled "RNA-based Disease Advocacy Panel: "RNA as Cause and Cure" which will feature perspectives from Kris Noakes, Sinder-Marie Pascal Patterson, Dr. Greg Costain, Dr. Angelica Moresco and Dr. Victoria Mok Siu.

RNA Canada is incredibly proud to sponsor a Patient Advocacy Panel which will take place on Thu July 11th 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM (ET) in Toronto at the SickKids Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning. It will also be made available online to RNA Canada members!

www.rnacanada.ca/etn/trend-rn...

And another deadline coming up is our design contest. RNArtists, we want to showcase your designs! Send us your RNA-inspired designs by next week and have a chance at immortality in the eyes of RNA Canada scientists 🤭

2 more days before registration closes! Send in your abstracts.

2025 RiboClub Annual Meeting – RNA Canada ARN

Registration for the 2025 RiboClub annual meeting is open! Please submit your abstract and register before June 30th for an early bird discount. Click below to find out more. RiboClub will be held from September 21st to 25th, 2025!
www.rnacanada.ca/etn/2025-rib...

RNA Canada ARN 2025: Design Contest! - RNA Canada ARN Attention RNA Artists! We have exciting news for the RNA Canada! The Outreach Committee is hosting a design contest for RNA-themed merchandise, which will be showcased at future RNA Canada ARN meeting...

Attention RNA Artists! That includes *you*!
The RNA Canada ARN Outreach Committee is hosting a design contest for RNA-themed merchandise, which will be showcased at future RNA Canada ARN meetings and sold in the RNA Canada ARN online store. Deadline June 30th
www.rnacanada.ca/rna-canada-a...

We are excited to announce that registration for this year's Toronto RNA Enthusiasts' Day (TREnD) is now open!

July 10th, 1pm-4pm ET ONLINE for everyone

July 11th, 9am-7pm ET ONLINE across Canada and IN PERSON in Toronto

event.fourwaves.com/trend25/regi...

Hello out there! Are you looking for a friendly community to share your RNA research and hear about some cool RNA biology? Register for @trendrna.bsky.social on July 10-11 now! Oral abstract deadline is May 30th! Co sponsored by @rnacanada.bsky.social!

Poster for RNA Canada ARN Education Series Perspectives on RNA: RNA Chemistry and its applications Wednesday, May 21st, 3-4:30 pm EST / 12-1:30 pm PST

Next week! RNA Canada sponsored series:
Perspectives on RNA: RNA Chemistry and its applications, featuring Mark Taylor (UofToronto) Parrish Evers and John Pezacki (uOttawa) and Yihang Chen (ongene biotech Corporation). www.rnacanada.ca/etn/rna-cana...