Ari Meerson, PhD - Israel
2014
Our working hypothesis for the project "Extracellular RNAs as biomarkers and mediators in metabolic function and disease" is that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) contained in extracellular vesicles (EVs) have biomarker potential (carry information about the tissues and cells of origin) and may be bioactive in target tissues (act as a signaling mechanism) in the pathologies of obesity, type 2 diabetes and co- morbidities such as cancer. To test this hypothesis, we aim to perform the following:
- Systematic characterization of the RNA profile in EVs in health and disease
- Characterization of the mechanisms of EV secretion, transport and absorption
- Identification of EV origin and target tissues
- Elucidation of EV ncRNA bioactivity