News
September 2026
August 2026
June 2026
April 2026
Evan Lam Receives Prestigious NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Fellowship
This grant, formally named the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions with NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (F30AI202860) seeks to understand Ebolavirus (EBOV) infection in the context of the sequestration of splicing factors to cytoplasmic inclusion bodies, and the effect thereof on host-pathogen interactions. We hope that this will form the foundation for drugs targeting different parts of the viral life cycle, supplementing current vaccines and therapeutics.
Dr. Leandro Fernandez-Garcia Featured as a Speaker at the 20th Annual Translational Control Conference
Dr. Leandro Fernandez-Garcia presented Early Events in Dengue virus Infection Rewire Host Signaling to Drive Non Canonical Translation of Viral RNA at the 2026 Translation Control conference at Cold Spring Harbor.
Recent Lab Alumna Dr. Tania Strilets Publishes Research on YBX1 and RNA Polymerase III in PNAS
Dr. Strilets’ findings “uncover an underappreciated role for YBX1 as a guardian of noncoding RNA homeostasis, preventing inappropriate activation of innate immunity” (Strilets et al., 2026).
Strilets TI, Dremel SE, Garcia-Blanco MA. YBX1 regulates RNA polymerase III transcripts to prevent inflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2026 Sep;123(35):e2605741123. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2605741123. Epub 2026 Aug 21. PMID: 42627844; PMCID: PMC13535238.
Garcia-Blanco Lab Awarded New NIH R01 Grant to Investigate RNA Helicases in Alternative Splicing and Autoimmunity
The Garcia-Blanco Laboratory received a new National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) R01 grant (1R01AI192666) to investigate how the RNA helicases DDX39A and DDX39B regulate alternative splicing and contribute to autoimmunity.
Dr. Mariano Garcia-Blanco elected President of the RNA Society, to serve his term from January 2027 to December 2028
The RNA Society is a scientific organization established in 1993. It brings together scientists, researchers, students, and other professionals who study RNA (ribonucleic acid) to promote research, education, and collaboration in RNA biology.
https://www.rnasociety.org/rna-society-2026-election-results/
Dr. Mariano Garcia-Blanco formally inducted to the National Academy of Sciences at 163rd annual meeting of the Academy in Washington, DC
“NAS membership is a widely accepted mark of excellence in science and is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive. Members are elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research” (National Academy of Sciences, 2026, para. 1).
