NSF AIRFoundry to advance RNA technology and nanoparticle design

In the foundry, materials such as steel and copper are melted and cast into shapes to take on new shapes and functions. The US National Science Foundation Artificial Intelligence-driven RNA Foundry (NSF AIRFoundry), led by the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Puerto Rico and supported by an $18 million, six-year grant, will serve the same purpose, only instead of the body. of metal smithing, and “BioFoundry” will produce particles and nanoparticles.

The NSF AIRFoundry is one of five newly created BioFoundries, each with a different focus. Bringing together researchers from Penn Engineering, Penn Medicine’s Institute for RNA Innovation, the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (UPR-M), Drexel University, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and InfiniFluidics, the facility, which will be in the body. West Philadelphia and UPR-M, will focus on ribonucleic acid (RNA), a small molecule essential for gene and protein synthesis that has played an important role in the COVID-19 vaccine and saved tens of millions of lives.

The facility will use AI to design, optimize and optimize RNA and delivery vehicles by augmenting human expertise, performing rapid testing, and providing predictive models and automated workflows to accelerate discovery and innovation.

Through the NSF AIRFoundry, we are creating space for innovation in RNA technology that will help scientists tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges, from health care to environmental sustainability. .”

Daeyeon Lee, PhD, Russell Pearce and Elizabeth Crimian Heuer Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Penn Engineering and NSF AIRFoundry director.

“Our goal is to make RNA research accessible to a wider range of scientists than the healthcare sector, enabling important research and discoveries that can lead to new treatments, improved crops and the environment.” more consistent,” added Nobel Laureate Drew Weissman, MD. , PhD, Roberts Family Professor in Vaccine Research at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine, director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, and NSF AIRFoundry executive director.

The company will enable innovation in the field by promoting artificial intelligence (AI). AI has already shown great promise in drug discovery, analyzing large amounts of data to find hidden patterns. “By combining intelligence with advanced manufacturing processes, NSFAIRFoundry will change the way we design and manufacture RNA-based solutions,” said David Issadore, PhD, professor of Bioengineering in Electrical and Systems Engineering at Penn Engineering and director the company said. review summaries.

InfiniFluidics, a Philadelphia-based startup founded by Lee and Issadore, along with researchers from UPR-M, Drexel and CHOP will work together to improve the design and manufacture of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), tiny transportable lipid containers. RNA in cells. Just as the foundation provides other steel producers, the NSF AIRFoundry will provide any laboratory, biotechnology company or pharmaceutical company with high quality, processing for RNA analysis and LNP.

In addition, the company will promote collaboration between RNA scientists and platforms with AI. “Our open knowledge-sharing platform will allow researchers to collaborate and share insights in ways that have never been possible before,” said Zachary Ives, PhD, Adani President’s Distinguished Professor in Computer and Computer Science. and Penn Engineering and NSF AIRFoundry co-founder of the company said. knowledge sharing.

The institute will democratize research and train the next generation of RNA scientists by providing educational programs, schools and research opportunities. Claribel Acevedo-Vélez, PhD, assistant professor in Chemical Engineering said, “We are not only promoting scientific knowledge but also expanding participation, ensuring that students and scientists from All circles have an opportunity to contribute and benefit from this emerging field.” UPR-M is the Director of Education and Diversity at the NSF AIRFoundry.

Ultimately, Lee said, “NSF AIRFoundry will bring about the RNA revolution by harnessing the power of molecules that have saved millions of lives and AI that is changing the world.”