Stafforst group - Chemical Biology & Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are fantastic molecules. Due to their unique base pairing properties, hybridization between nucleic acids is highly predictable and thus rationally programmable. We combine oligonucleotide chemistry with bioengineering to create RNA-guided tools for the study and control of fundamental biochemical processes surrounding the function and processing of RNA inside living cells and organisms. In addition, we pioneered the field of RNA base editing (recently highlighted in Nature) and are working on the clinical development of RNA drugs that apply the RNA base editing mechanism. The lab works, in collaboration with various labs, on the whole pipeline from chemistry - to cell biology - to organoids - to in vivo proof of concept.