Project 459878

The RNA Editing Gordon Research Conference (GRC), started in 1997 and occurring bi-annually, has grown into the main international meeting dedicated to RNA and DNA modifications. While the conference started with only a focus on RNA editing, as new types of editing and modification events have been discovered they have been added. Namely, it has expanded in recent years to include DNA modification and editing. The 13th edition will be held in 2023 in Ventura, California from March 19 to March 24. This meeting is unique from a Canadian perspective because for the first time Canadians are part of the organizing committee. Thus, we are applying to CIHR to support the travel of more Canadian investigators with their trainees so that we can network with an international group of scientists in the field. The topics discussed will be how RNA and DNA are modified and edited in cells and how this is essential for certain physiological functions and how the dysfunction of these processes causes neurological disorders, cancer and other genetic diseases. The proteins that modify and edit the DNA have recently been engineered to have specific properties that would enable specific editing of genetic information to facilitate gene therapy. This is a major new advance in our field and much discussion about how to develop more enzymes for targeted gene therapy will take place.