RNA NanoCore is a Core Facility at the Icahn Genomics Institute (IGI), which is part of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In general, the Institute is working to create new DNA- and RNA-based therapies for a broad range of diseases. RNA NanoCore concentrates more specifically on using lipid nanoparticles and RNA technology to develop new therapeutics and nanomedicines.
Lipid nanoparticles are small lipid spheroids - approximately 100 nm in diameter – that encapsulate biological molecules such as RNA. They serve as a powerful non-viral gene delivery vehicle. This technology has already etched its mark in medicine by playing a pivotal role in the success of the COVID-19 vaccines and demonstrating the great potential and efficacy of this new class of nanotherapeutics.
RNA therapeutics are a new class of medicine in which RNA-based molecules are used for treatment or prevention of human diseases. RNA therapy can target specific cellular transcripts, genes and proteins or encode new genetic information. This broadens the druggable targets and enables development of new landscapes in the treatment of a variety of ailments, including cancers and genetic disorders. In addition, RNA based therapies use an accelerated development process that enables us to craft drugs in significantly reduced timelines compared to conventional drug development methods.
At RNA NanoCore, we package custom-made RNA in curated lipid nanoparticle formulation to allow researchers to develop next generation therapeutics. NanoCore’ channels IGI expertise to create a hub where science meets innovation. The continuous crosstalk between IGI and NanoCore positions us at the forefront of lipid nanoparticle and RNA technology so that we can offer innovative delivery systems for next-generation genetic medicine.