RNA technologies are transforming the future of health care and providing powerful tools for global health security.
For many years, Canada and Quebec lagged international leaders in RNA-based biomanufacturing and translational capacity. The $165 million Canada First Research Excellence Fund investment in McGill’s DNA to RNA initiative (D2R) in 2023, however, marked a turning point in closing the gap. The challenge now is to consolidate this opportunity into sustainable capacity, with cutting-edge RNA-based precision therapies serving diverse communities and societal needs.
Our Strengths
McGill has long been recognized as a centre of excellence in RNA biology. Our foundational discoveries have revealed the molecular mechanisms of mRNA translation. This legacy is amplified by globally competitive infrastructure in genomics, computational biology, and molecular medicine, and by a strong hospital–university ecosystem.
D2R is now developing an integrated platform that connects discovery science with technology, regulatory expertise, and clinical and commercial applications. As D2R grows, it is establishing Good Manufacturing Practices -grade training environments and fostering start-ups and industrial collaborations. These efforts ensure that new therapies can move from lab to clinic with scientific rigour, translational speed, and social responsibility.
Our Ambition
The next phase of D2R will focus on scale, sovereignty, and global impact. McGill researchers are accelerating RNA-based precision therapies that will transform treatment options for cancer, rare diseases, and infectious diseases. At the same time, D2R is catalyzing the renewal of Canada’s life sciences ecosystem and directly advancing the federal Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy and Quebec’s AReNA initiative.
This work is grounded in a broad ecosystem of academic, hospital, industry, community, and government partners. It also draws on collaboration with Indigenous-led research initiatives, which provide models of Nation-to-Nation partnership and sovereignty in health research. We are committed to building D2R inclusively and with respect. At the same time, we will consolidate our leadership in RNA science, a central pillar in the broader transformation of precision health.