For decades, the idea of treating disease with RNA was considered unrealistic. RNA molecules were thought to be too unstable, too difficult to deliver, and too complex to control. Today, RNA-based medicines are transforming the treatment of previously untreatable genetic diseases and opening entirely
new possibilities for precision medicine.
In this lecture, Dr. Perry Howard will tell the story of the RNA revolution through one remarkable scientific journey. Beginning with a rare inherited eye disorder called aniridia, he will show how decades of basic research into gene regulation and RNA biology led to new therapeutic strategies designed to restore normal gene expression. Along the way, he will explore why breakthroughs such as Spinraza for spinal muscular atrophy marked a turning point in medicine and why many scientists believe we are only beginning to realize the therapeutic potential of RNA.
Dr. Perry Howard is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Biology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. His research explores how RNA processing controls stem cell function, development, and disease, with a particular focus on understanding the role of the RNA-processing protein ARS2 and developing RNA-based therapies for genetic disorders such as aniridia. His laboratory combines fundamental discoveries in RNA biology with the development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring normal gene expression. A gifted educator, Dr. Howard is passionate about sharing how basic scientific discoveries can lead to transformative advances in medicine.