RNA therapeutics in the RNA journal
In this issue of RNA we introduce a new section of the journal dedicated to RNA therapeutics, defined broadly as disease treatments or medicines with RNA components or based on targeting RNA.
We are in a new era of medicine, when people with previously untreatable disease and conditions can now get diagnosed, and approaches can be designed and developed into therapies. RNA therapeutics has a central place in this revolution of medicine. But RNA is a complex molecule, and to create RNA therapies that are the best that they can be, there is now, more than ever, an enormous need for expertise in RNA biology and collaboration around discovery and translation. New insights into the basic mechanisms of gene expression and RNA lead to therapeutic target selection, mutation and disease mechanism information, assay development and biomarker identification and more. RNA will facilitate this relationship by publishing your studies on topics ranging from the most fundamental aspects of RNA therapeutics science to the more applied (but still scientific) aspects of effectively using RNA in the clinic.
Why is RNA an ideal repository for publishing RNA therapeutics studies? The RNA Journal has been a beacon for basic scientific research on RNA processing and biology for nearly 30 years. The studies published here are foundational to the most exciting discoveries in drug development. From reports on different RNA modalities (such as antisense oligonucleotide targeting, RNA interference, ribozymes, mRNAs and gene editing approaches), to papers on target discovery and treatment strategy, critical details needed for advancement have been published here, in the pages of RNA. Arguably, every experiment has the potential to inform RNA therapeutic design and development, whether studying the origins of life and the RNA world, gene expression at the single cell level, in silico modeling, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, chemical reactions and everything in between. This new RNA Therapeutics section aims to illuminate the relationship and pave the path between basic science discovery and translation to therapies by highlighting manuscripts in this broad area. Our goal is to inspire creativity, collaboration and future discoveries.
The advantages of publishing your work in RNA include not only exposure to audiences across a broad base of expertise and the reputation that the journal has for detailed studies on RNA, but also a guarantee of high quality, fast reviewing and rapid publication. Our editorial board is made up of experts who will provide timely feedback and turnaround to ensure your results are disseminated in a manner of weeks, rather than months, which is often more typical at other journals. In addition, as the official journal of the RNA Society, we engage our community in many ways through events, competitions and awards and other programs that our authors can take advantage of.
We welcome submission of original research articles, either short reports or larger studies. We also will consider other types of scientific writings on RNA therapeutics, including perspectives, reviews and opinions. Subject areas that we will consider are broad, and include, but are not limited to, therapeutic development involving any aspect of RNA or its derivatives, delivery of RNA-based therapeutics, target discovery and validation, safety and efficacy, and bioinformatic applications that serve in any of these areas.
With the launch of RNA therapeutics, RNA is signaling its commitment to disseminating robust RNA science research throughout the path from experimental result to clinical practice. We invite you to join us in this journey by publishing in our journal.
Michelle L. Hastings
RNA Therapeutics Editor
