Towards non coding RNA-based therapies: Developing innovative mass spectrometry methods to probe function of non-coding RNA immune regulators

Most of our DNA is used to make “non-coding” RNAs (ncRNAs). Despite this, current drugs act on protein-coding genes. Recent advances mean that we now can unlock the therapeutic promise of ncRNAs. Using experimental models of leishmaniasis, we discovered that deletion of a single long ncRNA, is sufficient to substantially strengthen the immune system and result in a significant reduction in parasite load. This novel role opens new routes for host-directed therapies of infectious and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this proposal is to establish a new cutting-edge method in York that allows us to probe at high resolution how ncRNAs work in immune cells. Establishing this method in York will attract further collaborations with external academic and industrial partners.