RNA Therapeutics 1_5

In the last years, it has become evident that the majority of the genome is transcribed, while only about 2% codes for proteins. These so-called non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise microRNAs, long ncRNAs (>200 nt) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). The research groups of Prof. Dimmeler, Prof. Fleming and Prof. Brandes at RheinMain have extensive expertise in non-coding RNA research including the development of microRNA inhibitors in angiogenesis, cardiac aging and aneurysm formation as well as the characterization of the long non-coding RNAs in endothelial cell functions in vitro and in vivo. In frame of this common project we will join efforts to better understand the function of lncRNAs and circRNAs in the cardiovascular system in order to identify putative novel therapeutic targets.