Montreal – April 29, 2026 | McGill University’s DNA to RNA Initiative (D2R) has invested nearly $6 million in funding to support four groundbreaking research projects that will advance RNA-based therapies for cancer and rare genetic diseases. The awards were initially announced at the D2R Research Symposium on April 23-24, 2026.

D2R’s Translational Impact Research (TIR) funding program supports large-scale, translational research projects that will have a measurable impact on the health of Canadians. By addressing gaps in current treatment options, these projects will accelerate the development of RNA-based therapies and make personalized medicine more accessible for patients with rare diseases and cancer. 

The following Principal Investigators and their projects have been awarded funding:

• Charles Couturier — From Trial to Gene Therapy: Restoring Differentiation in IDH-Mutant Glioma
• Carl Ernst — mRNA therapy for CLN3 Batten disease
• Nada Jabado — From Bench to Bedside: RNA and AAV Gene Therapies for Diffuse Midline Gliomas
• Anastasia Nijnik — LNP/mRNA Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease