Abstract

The NIH Extracellular RNA Communication Consortium: Advancing Knowledge and Technologies for Extracellular RNA Research

Christine Happel, Scientific Program Manager, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

The discovery that secreted RNA (exRNA) is transported between cells through extracellular vesicles (EVs) suggested that exRNAs plays an important role in intercellular communication. Moreover, exRNAs also have utility as biomarkers of disease and as therapeutic agents. However, many gaps in knowledge and technical challenges in EVs and exRNA biology, such as mechanisms of EV biogenesis and uptake, exRNA cargo selection, and exRNA function. Moreover, efficient and reproducible methods for isolation and analysis of EVs and exRNAs were not available. The NIH Common Fund-supported exRNA Communication Consortium (ERCC) was launched in 2013 to address the major scientific challenges in this field. Participating laboratories from the 30 funded ERCC projects have worked individually and collaboratively to work toward these goals. This presentation will highlight the ERCC tools and resources developed, and scientific highlights particularly in biomarker discovery and therapeutic development of EV-based exRNA.