About The Human RNome Project

The Human RNome Project seeks to obtain the sequences of full-length RNA transcripts with all the modifications.  The technologies developed by the Human RNome Project will allow the direct sequencing of any RNA from any organism.  The data and technologies will have a broad and deep impact on biology and manufacturing from data storage to therapeutics.

The Human RNome Project stands at the forefront of scientific innovation, with its ambitious goal to map the entire range of human RNA molecules, each uniquely decorated by any of more than 50 distinct chemical modifications. This groundbreaking initiative is poised to revolutionize multiple fields, including therapeutics, diagnostics, food security, biomanufacturing, and vaccine development, marking a significant leap forward in our understanding and application of biological sciences.

Despite the existence of over 20,000 human diseases, current medical treatments effectively address only around 500. Emerging evidence points to mechanistic contributions by the RNome to hundreds more diseases. 

RNA-based therapies and drug targets in the RNome have also emerged as a rich set of therapeutic opportunities. This is exemplified by the success of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, Nusinersen for spinal muscular atrophy, Mipomersen and Inclisaran for cholesterol reduction as well as mRNA-based cancer treatments. 

However, to fully harness the potential of RNome therapeutics and make them widely accessible, we face a significant challenge: the need to precisely define all RNA sequences and the locations of all modifications. RNA molecules while transcribed from DNA, undergo extensive editing and modification by hundreds of enzymes, with at least 50 modifications identified in human cells and another 120 in microbes and pathogens. The Human RNome Project aims to sequence RNA comprehensively, including all their modifications, to deepen our biological understanding and develop RNA-based treatments.RNA transcripts with all the modifications.  The technologies developed by the Human RNome Project will allow the direct sequencing of RNA from all organisms.