We are pleased to announce that Christian Weber has received €1,500,000 funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for the Reinhart Koselleck Project “Modulating Non-Canonical Functions of microRNAs in Atherosclerosis.” This will enable this research project to be funded over the next 5 years.
The discovery of an aptamer-like binding of an endogenous miRNA to proteins, namely that of miR-126-5p to caspase-3, as facilitated by the RNA-binding protein MEX3A has extended the classical paradigm of miRNA function, adding a new layer to the mechanisms enacted by miRNAs.
The project will apply unbiased strategies to discover components contributing to non-canonical functions of miRNAs, providing groundbreaking insights into an uncharted field of molecular biology. The high-risk nature and the innovative research field make the Reinhart-Koselleck program a uniquely suitable funding framework for this project.We thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for this generous support, which we hope will enable significant advances in understanding and treating atherosclerosis.
