RNA-Based Therapies: Results of Spoke 6 Presented in Naples

21 January 2026, Naples – From 14 to 15 January, Spoke 6 held its scientific meeting on RNA Drug Development, highlighting research results and innovative technological achievements. As the first meeting in 2026 among the ten Spokes of the National Center, the event was hosted at the Sala Vaccaro of the National Research Council (CNR) Research Area, Castellino Campus, Naples.

The event brought together researchers, institutional representatives and industry stakeholders to review the results achieved over the past three years of scientific activity, during which 25 research projects were supported and 35 researchers recruited, and to discuss future perspectives in RNA-based drug development.

The meeting, together with an accompanying press conference, welcomed Professor Angela Zampella, Vice-Rector of the University of Naples Federico II, President of the National Center’s Supervisory Board and scientific lead of the RNA Production Platform, which is set to serve National Center research groups as a dedicated facility for RNA synthesis and formulation. Also attending was Professor Fabiana Quaglia, Coordinator of Spoke 8, which focuses on platforms for RNA/DNA Delivery.

Coordinated by Professor Giuseppe Biamonti of the CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGM), Spoke 6 integrates multidisciplinary researchers with complementary expertise in molecular biology, chemistry and physics. Its overarching goal is to develop tools and strategies to improve the understanding of RNA-related biological processes, enhance the efficacy and specificity of RNA-based therapeutics, and reduce their impact on cellular functions and the organism as a whole.

In addition to presentations by the Principal Investigators of Spoke 6, the program featured a keynote lecture by Professor Dr. Katrin Paeschke (University of Bonn, Germany), entitled “DHX36 as a Regulatory Switch in the Interferon-Mediated Antiviral Response.” The inclusion of an international speaker underlined Spoke 6’s commitment to a broad, transnational perspective in advancing RNA-based drug development.

Over two days of presentations, researchers illustrated the results of the projects carried out and structured around three main Work Packages (WPs):

WP1 – Technological Approaches for RNA Therapeutics, focused on the development of advanced technologies for RNA sequencing, imaging and editing;
WP2 – Development of RNA-based and RNA-targeting compounds for therapeutic use, dedicated to the design and characterization of new compounds with improved selectivity, in vivo stability and binding strength;
WP3 – Test cases and identification of novel therapeutic RNA molecules, addressing different RNA classes, including non-coding and circular RNAs, and the discovery of new therapeutic RNA candidates.

Highlighting the strong integration between academic research and industrial development, the scientific meeting also included two round-table sessions. Among them, the round table “Tools and Strategies for RNA-Based Therapies,” moderated by journalist Paola Cacace, brought together Professor Giuseppe Biamonti (IGM-CNR), Professor Angela Zampella (University of Naples Federico II), Professor Fabiana Quaglia (University of Naples Federico II) and Luigi Aurisicchio, CEO of Takis Biotech.

The results presented confirm Spoke 6 as a key contributor to the National Center’s advancement of RNA-based therapies and strengthening Italy’s role in the rapidly evolving field of gene therapy and precision medicine.

Press release:

la Repubblica – Centro per la terapia genica e farmaci con tecnologia Rna, a Napoli i risultati dello Spoke 6

Citta di Napoli – Centro Nazionale per la Terapia Genica: da “Spoke 6” 25 progetti sostenuti e 35 ricercatori assunti

il Mattino – Sanità, diagnosi precoce grazie alla terapia genica: ecco i segreti dell’Rna

il Messaggero – Sanità, diagnosi precoce grazie alla terapia genica: ecco i segreti dell’Rna