Scientists Aim to Clean Up RNA Pollution to Halt Neurodegeneration

A UC San Diego–led collaboration with the Salk Institute and Sanford Burnham Prebys has received a four-year, $13 million CIRM grant to study RNA pollution as a root cause of age-related neurodegeneration. The team will use a transdifferentiation approach to convert patient skin cells into age-retaining induced neurons (iNs), map RNA pollution across more than 200 cell lines and patient biofluids, and explore how mitochondrial energy production contributes to RNA pollution. They will employ robotics to screen thousands of potential therapies (including FDA-approved drugs and targeted RNA therapies), testing the most promising candidates in 3D brain models (iSpheroids) and eventually animal models to improve neuronal resilience against diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS.