Dr Parisa Naeli, based in PGJCCR’s RNA Biology Lab, was one of the Club’s founding members. We caught up with her to find out a bit more about how the club started and where it hopes to go.

 

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your work in PGJCCR?

 

I joined PGJCCR in September 2020 as a postdoctoral researcher in Dr Seyed Mehdi Jafarnejad’s group, known as the RNA Biology Lab. Since then, I've been involved in a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) supported project focused on unravelling the mechanisms through which RNA-binding proteins regulate mRNA translation and decay. Specifically, our research investigates their pivotal roles in both drug response and drug resistance in cancer.

 

You helped establish the All-Ireland RNA Club. How did that come about?

 

Like any scientific network, the All-Ireland RNA Club is the result of collaborative efforts. We had input from various groups across Ireland. Notably, Dr Martina Schroeder of Maynooth University played a pivotal role in rallying researchers to join and contribute to the club. To establish official recognition and financial support we applied for the RNA Salon Grant from the RNA Society: an international scientific organization facilitating the dissemination of RNA biology. The application was successful and thanks to the RNA Society and its sponsor Lexogen we secured the funding to facilitate our activities. Additionally, I was honoured with a one-year membership to the RNA Society.

 

The RNA Club ‘aims to support early career RNA researchers in particular.’ Could you give us an example of what that kind of support might look like?

 

Effective communication is crucial for success in science. The All-Ireland RNA Club is dedicated to empowering early career researchers to actively share their research with peers and receive valuable feedback. Our meetings provide RNA researchers with a platform to establish collaborations and hone presentation skills. Furthermore, we prioritize involving PhD and postdoc members in organizing events, chairing sessions, and hosting meetings, thereby enhancing their engagement and skill development.

 

You recently tweeted about how post-docs come and go but that ‘All-Ireland RNA Club is forever.’ What would you like to see from the club in the longer term?

 

As an early career researcher deeply passionate about RNA and its biology, I am proud to have played a role in the development of the All-Ireland RNA Club and the broader RNA biology community. I will transition from my postdoctoral era but I am confident that my contributions will continue to benefit researchers, enabling them to share their work, foster collaborations, and advance their careers in the future.

Can you see PGJCCR continuing to play a role in the club’s future?

 

Currently there are four research groups at Queens University Belfast (QUB) that are mainly focused on RNA biology and actively involved in All-Ireland RNA club. In December 2023 QUB successfully organized a meeting attended by over 60 researchers from various universities across Ireland. With support from the Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research (PGJCCR), we hosted Prof. Mattias Hentze, a well-known RNA biologist and Director of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, as our keynote speaker. Following this success, we anticipate further contributions and support from PGJCCR to nurture the growth of our newly-established club. This includes encouraging researchers to share their work, organizing events, providing financial support, and facilitating attendance at meetings hosted by other universities in Ireland.