The Core Platform Sustainability funding program supports state-of-the-art platforms that are essential for advancing research and development and facilitating technology uptake and transfer in fields relevant to RNA therapeutics.

In the first funding cycle launched in 2024, 16 applications were received of which 8 received awards. View a summary of the review and selection process. In addition, D2R has also funded NanoCore, led by Pieter Cullis at the University of British Columbia.

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Centre for Applied Nanomedicine (CAN)

(From left to right:Nadim Tawil,Laura Montermini, Janusz Rak)

Scientific Director: Janusz Rak (Research Institute of the º«¹úÂãÎè Health Centre)

Tagline: D2R goes nano

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About: Centre for Applied Nanomedicine (CAN) is a place/platform where specialized instruments measure, observe, and characterize myriads of small objects known as nanoparticles (NPs). NPs can occur naturally, as secreted (extra)cellular vesicles that play a role in cell-cell communication, or they could be man-made. In either case they protect and deliver potent, but fragile molecules, such as RNA to different organs. NPs can be harnessed for therapy, to deliver healing RNA, or in diagnostics to detect disease. Because NPs are small and invisible under the microscope CAN instruments are essential to detect and analyse them for various research and medical applications.

Funding duration: 3-years

D2R - Health Data Science (D2R-HeDS) platform

Scientific Director: Guillaume Bourque (º«¹úÂãÎè)Ìý

Tagline: Empowering Precision Medicine with Data-Driven Insights

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About: D2R-HeDS platform is an innovative effort designed to transform biomedical research. D2R-HeDS provides tools and resources to researchers analyzing complex genomic and RNA data through the capability of data science, such as bioinformatics, biostatistics, and machine learning. The platform enhances data management and promotes collaboration among D2R researchers from various fields, accelerating discoveries in areas such as precision medicine, rare disease, and cancer. D2R-HeDS seeks to help the D2R community by providing services and training programs that equip research teams with the skills and resources needed to address today's most critical health concerns.

Funding duration: 3-years

End to end sequencing platform for RNA therapeutics quality control (EESPRNATQC)

Scientific Director: Ioannis Ragoussis (º«¹úÂãÎè)

Tagline: Quality Control of RNA Therapeutics Production by Advanced Sequencing Technologies

About: Given the revolutionary impact of mRNA in vaccination and therapeutics, º«¹úÂãÎè is working to enable fast development and evaluation of new mRNA products by establishing the capacity to produce sufficient mRNA for pre-clinical trials. Quality control is essential to support this goal and ensure high safety and efficacy of these products. Here, we propose to use long-read nanopore sequencing, a single technique that can provide information on multiple aspects of the product and replace several analytical methods currently being used. Once established, this quality control platform will respond to the sequencing needs of both the academic community and industrial partners.

Funding duration: 3-years

Integrated Cytometry and Enhanced Learning Laboratories (iCELL)

Scientific Director: Jorg Fritz (º«¹úÂãÎè)

Tagline: The iCELL Platform provides the basic and clinical D2R research community with essential services to enhance our understanding of cellular characteristics and functions, facilitating our understanding of novel vaccines, cancer immunotherapies and RNA therapeutics.

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About: The iCELL Platform provides the basic and clinical D2R research community with essential services to enhance our understanding of cellular characteristics and functions in health and disease. The technologies, approaches and services provided by iCELL advance and complement the transformative research in genomics and RNA biology, supporting the D2R research community to facilitate the development of novel vaccines to emerging pathogens, cancer immunotherapies, and RNA therapeutics to chronic and inflammatory disorders.

Funding duration: 3-years

Integrated º«¹úÂãÎè Infectious Disease Platforms (iMIPDs)

Scientific Director: Silvia Vidal (º«¹úÂãÎè)

Tagline: Driving Breakthroughs in Infectious Disease Research and Pandemic Preparedness

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About: The Integrated º«¹úÂãÎè Infectious Disease Platforms (iMIDPs) unites three biocontainment facilities across º«¹úÂãÎè to spearhead efforts against emerging and re-emerging pathogens. Leveraging advanced technologies, iMIDPs focuses on developing preclinical mouse models to evaluate RNA-based therapeutics and vaccines. The platform plays a crucial role in pandemic preparedness by offering specialized training for researchers in high-containment environments and infectious disease animal models. Supported by º«¹úÂãÎè’s D2R program, iMIDPs drives cutting-edge research, fosters collaborations with academia and industry, and provides access to world-class resources. This initiative enhances public health readiness and propels scientific innovation.

Funding duration: 3-years

º«¹úÂãÎè Clinical Sequencing Service (MCSS)

Scientific Director: Mark Lathrop (º«¹úÂãÎè)

Tagline: Unlocking the Power of DNA for a Healthier Future

About: The º«¹úÂãÎè Clinical Sequencing Service (MCSS), funded by the DNA to RNA (D2R) Initiative, is making personalized medicine a reality by offering accredited, clinical-grade genomic sequencing to uncover the secrets of DNA. By adhering to the highest international standards (ISO15189, CAP/CLIA), which ensure accuracy and reproducibility of all results, we empower doctors and researchers to tackle cancer, rare diseases, and infections. Our cutting-edge technology enables treatments tailored to participants’ genetic profiles—improving health outcomes, accelerating diagnoses, and opening the door to revolutionary new therapies.

Funding duration: 3-years

º«¹úÂãÎè Integrated Core for Animal Modeling and º«¹úÂãÎè Platform for Cellular Perturbation (MICAM-MPCP)

Scientific Director: Yojiro Yamanaka (º«¹úÂãÎè)

Tagline: Genome engineering in vivo and in vitro

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About: The º«¹úÂãÎè Integrated Core for Animal Modeling (MICAM) focuses on mouse genetics and transgenesis, while the º«¹úÂãÎè Platform for Cell Perturbation (MPCP) offers researchers access to cost-effective, ready-to-use genetic tools, including lentiviral shRNA, cDNA, CRISPR knockout clones, and entry ORF clones for Gateway cloning. Together, these platforms equip º«¹úÂãÎè researchers with advanced resources to manipulate DNA and RNA both in vivo and in vitro. This synergy enables them to investigate mammalian genomes, understand disease mechanisms, identify drug targets, and develop treatment strategies for human diseases.

Funding duration: 3-years

º«¹úÂãÎè messenger RNA therapeutic platform / plateforme d’ARN messager thérapeutiques (MMRNATP)

Scientific Director: Thomas Duchaine (º«¹úÂãÎè)

About: The new mRNA therapeutics platform at º«¹úÂãÎè, housed on the 9th floor of the McIntyre Building, will support research from the D2R projects, º«¹úÂãÎè’s RNA Sciences Center, DEPTAQ network partners, and both academic and industrial clients. The platform focuses on mRNA modalities central to precision medicine, including neoantigen cancer vaccines, CAR-T programming, and self-amplifying RNAs. It will offer preclinical-scale bioproduction and LNP formulation services for various mRNA formats, alongside rigorous quality control and functional validation. This flexibility will allow the platform to adapt to emerging mRNA technologies, contributing significantly to the advancement of RNA-based therapeutics.

Funding duration: 3-years

NanoCore

Scientific Director: Pieter Cullis (University of British Columbia)

Website:

About: The Translational NanoMedicines Formulation and Characterization Core Facility (NanoCore) facilitates NMIN's vision of translating nanomedicines to the clinic by providing state-of-the-art nanoparticle formulations and a standardized nanomedicines characterization service to enable potent therapies that can be readily manufactured.

The NanoCore serves as a NMIN resource and knowledge base to facilitate the development of new nanomedicines and will ensure that these new drugs have the potential to satisfy regulatory requirements.

Many NMIN investigators have considerable expertise in certain disease states but do not have extensive experience in formulating nanomedicine delivery systems. NanoCore will provide these Investigators with the most advanced delivery technology possible, and also provide services such as nanoparticle reformulation, optimization, and lead selection.

By providing critical expertise and characterization services, NanoCore will accelerate the translation of nanomedicines into the clinic by ensuring that NMIN investigators are working with the most appropriate nanomedicine formulations required by their particular application.

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