A fundamental question in cancer biology is to define the key oncogenic features of long non-protein coding RNAs (lncRNAs). These regulatory RNA molecules can exert function at multiple levels, from DNA replication to transcriptional and translational control. Therefore, lncRNAs can affect all aspects of cellular biology. Remarkably, cancer cells can become dependent on specific lncRNAs for their growth and survival. This dependency is amenable to therapeutic intervention using optimized RNA medicine strategies. CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) is a powerful tool to identify functional lncRNAs in specific cancer contexts.
Dr. Morelli will discuss the recent use of CRISPRi to systematically map the lncRNA dependencies in multiple myeloma (MM). Focusing on the MM-promoting lncRNA RNA Regulator of Lipogenesis (RROL), the speakers will also describe in vitro and in cellulo molecular assays to dissect the mechanism of action of lncRNAs in cancer cells. Finally, he will describe an optimized platform to pre-clinically develop antisense inhibitors of lncRNAs and their testing in clinically relevant xenograft models.
Join this webinar to get an overview of the role of IncRNAs in gene regulations as well as conceptual and technical insights to identify and characterize functional lncRNAs in specific cancer contexts.
Speakers
Eugenio Morelli, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & Harvard Medical School
Eugenio Morelli, MD, is a junior faculty at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. He earned his medical degree (2011) and completed a clinical research fellowship in medical oncology (2017) at Magna Graecia University (Catanzaro, Italy) under the mentorship of Dr. Pierfrancesco Tassone. In 2017, he joined the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA, USA), where he has been working under the mentorship of Dr. Nikhil Munshi.
Dr. Morelli’s research interest is to decode the key oncogenic features of noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) to inform the development of ncRNA-based therapeutic approaches in multiple myeloma. He has a demonstrated record of accomplished and productive research projects in this area of investigation, having pioneered the use of primary microRNA (miRNA) therapeutics of human cancer and generated the first comprehensive map of ncRNA dependencies in myeloma. His projects are currently funded by competitive career development awards including the American Society of Hematology Scholar Fellow to Faculty Award, the International Myeloma Foundation Brian D Novis Award and the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center SPORE in Multiple Myeloma Career Enhancement Award. He is an active member of the American Society of Hematology and the International Myeloma Society, by which he has been awarded the IMS Young Investigator Award 2019 and 2021.
Message Presenter
Paul Diehl, PhD, Chief Operating Officer, Cellecta, Inc.
Dr. Paul Diehl joined Cellecta, Inc. in July 2010 where he applies over two decades of experience in biotechnology to developing and expanding the company’s commercial and collaborative activities. Prior to joining Cellecta, Dr. Diehl held various marketing and business development positions at B-Bridge International, Agilent Technologies, Clontech Laboratories and other companies. Dr. Diehl received his BA in Biology from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, PA and his PhD in Biochemistry from Washington State University in Pullman, WA.
Message PresenterWho Should Attend?
This webinar will appeal to:
- Principal investigators (PI’s)
- Research Scientists
- Chief Science Officers
- Research Directors
- Post-doctoral Researchers
- Research Associates
- Directors of Research & Development
What You Will Learn
In this webinar, the speakers will discuss the following:
- CRISPRi is a powerful tool to identify functional lncRNAs in specific cancer contexts
- LncRNAs provide growth-dependency in multiple myeloma
- LncRNAs cooperate with transcription factors and epigenetic modulators to modulate gene expression
- LncRNAs are actionable targets for therapeutic application
Xtalks Partner
Cellecta
Cellecta is a trusted provider of functional genomic products and services with over 15 years’ experience working with the world’s leading pharma, biotech, and academic institutions. Our portfolio includes products and services for loss-of-function and gain-of-function phenotypic screening, cell barcoding and transcriptomes profiling. This includes design and manufacture of custom and genome-wide clonal barcode CRISPR and RNAi libraries, lentiviral constructs and cell engineering services. We also offer expression profiling assays and spatial transcriptomic services for drug target and biomarker discovery and other applications.
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