Dr. Noemí Rotllan Vila, principal investigator of the Pathophysiology of Lipid-Related Diseases Group at the Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau), has been consulted as an expert by the Science Media Centre platform to provide her assessment of the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun. This award recognizes their significant contributions to the discovery of microRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules that play a fundamental role in regulating gene expression.
“I cannot hide my joy in seeing how the pioneering work of two great scientists, who began their research in the 1980s, is recognized worldwide,” Dr. Rotllan stated. According to the expert, the studies of Ambros and Ruvkun have not only expanded the understanding of cellular development but also opened the door to new therapeutic avenues for various diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Dr. Rotllan highlighted that her own research also focuses on the fascinating world of microRNAs. “These small sequences of only 19-22 nucleotides are capable of regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, either by inhibiting translation or promoting messenger RNA degradation. It is astonishing how a single microRNA can control more than 100 mRNAs and, at the same time, how a single mRNA can be regulated by several microRNAs,” she explained.
Additionally, the researcher emphasized the potential of microRNAs as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in various pathologies. “Although clinical trials are in their early stages, as is the case with Miravirsen, the first drug specifically targeting a microRNA, it is a promising step towards personalized medicine,” she noted. Nonetheless, Dr. Rotllan wanted to remind that much research remains to be done before these therapies can be widely applied.
Finally, she underscored the importance of basic research conducted with model organisms, such as the small worm Caenorhabditis elegans. “Studies with these organisms are key to understanding fundamental biology and should not be underestimated,” she concluded.
This recognition of the discovery of microRNAs not only celebrates their scientific relevance but also highlights the path that remains to be traveled in the field of biomedicine, a path that researchers like Dr. Noemí Rotllan Vila continue to pave.
