Valentin Thron received a Poster Award at the 3rd Fraunhofer CIMD Symposium on RNA-Based Therapeutics for his work on circular mRNA translation.
His poster, “No Universal IRES: CDS-IRES Pairing Determines Circular RNA Translation,” explores how the compatibility between coding sequences (CDSs) and internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) influences protein production from circular RNAs (circRNAs). The findings suggest that not every IRES works equally well with every coding sequence, highlighting the importance of CDS-IRES pairing. A better understanding of these interactions could ultimately help predict suitable combinations based on RNA sequence alone and support the development of more effective circRNA-based therapeutics.
The symposium brought together researchers working across the RNA therapeutics field to discuss current advances, emerging opportunities, and remaining challenges in translating RNA-based approaches into clinical applications.
Valentin would like to thank the symposium organizers for the opportunity to present his work, his lab colleagues and students for their support, and Ralf Wagner for enabling his participation in the conference.
Valentin is a PhD-candidate in Prof. Wagners lab at the Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene and affiliated with the Fraunhofer ITMP-IIP in Muinch.
