Abstract
RNA drugs are quickly becoming an alternative drug discovery platform with the ability to engage targets that are not accessible to conventional therapies. The COVID-19 pandemic brought RNA therapies into the spotlight with the rapid development of effective mRNA vaccines. Additional RNA-based molecules have been developed for a wide range of therapies, including as antivirals. I will present my research on the discovery and development of different RNA therapies for use in combination gene therapy to cure HIV-1 infection, including anti-HIV-1 ribozymes, RNA aptamers, short hairpin RNAs and U1 interference RNAs. I will also present my work on identifying effective small interfering RNAs targeting the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome for development as antiviral medications. Finally, I will present perspectives on identifying immune modulating RNAs for potential broad-spectrum activity against respiratory viruses.
