Blog Post

RNA Canada ARN, in partnership with Moderna, is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 RNA Canada ARN Moderna Awards.  

Each awardee received a cash prize and a commemorative plaque that was presented at the Gala Awards dinner of the RNA Canada ARN: RiboClub conference (Oct 4th-7th, Cheribourg, QC).

RNA Canada ARN’s Moderna Discovery of the Year Award

The RNA Canada ARN Discovery of the Year Award recognizes groundbreaking RNA discoveries made by Canadian researchers (either as a group or individually) during the past year.

“Human lncRNA RMRP interacts with DEAD-box helicases and modulates mitochondrial function” (PNAS, 2026) – an interdisciplinary and collaborative discovery led by Trushar Patel at the University of Lethbridge that represents a rare example of a study that moves a lncRNA from “associated with disease” to a defined, experimentally supported mechanism. Specifically, this work sheds light on the mechanism of the lncRNA RMRP, revealing an RNA–helicase–mitochondria regulatory axis linking RNA structure and protein interactions to cellular physiology. By integrating structural, biochemical, and cell-biological approaches, this work uncovers a previously unrecognized role for a lncRNA in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis, providing fundamental new insight into RNA biology while opening important directions for understanding disease and developing RNA-targeted therapeutics.

Trushar Patel is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science, and Canada Research Chair in RNA and Protein Biophysics at the University of Lethbridge. His research focuses on the biophysical characterization of viral nucleic acids and their interactions with human proteins, using interdisciplinary approaches to understand how these interactions contribute to infection and disease.

RNA Canada ARN’s Moderna Trainees of the Year Award 

The RNA Canada ARN Trainees of the Year Award recognizes a trainee (undergraduate, graduate student, or postdoctoral researcher) who, in the past year, has made significant contributions to RNA research with the potential for future impact.

Jennifer Porat

Jennifer Porat, currently a postdoctoral associate at Harvard Medical School, is a creative and independent RNA scientist whose recent discoveries are expanding the emerging field of cell-surface RNA biology. Her postdoctoral research has helped uncover how glycosylation shapes the chemistry and immune recognition of cell-surface RNA and has revealed the unexpected presence of mitochondrial DNA within RNA and RNA-binding-protein domains on the mammalian cell surface. Building on her earlier discoveries of non-canonical functions for RNA modification enzymes, Jennifer is helping define emerging areas of RNA biology while building a distinctive independent research trajectory.

Jennifer Porat earned her PhD in Biology from York University in 2023, working on RNA modification enzymes with Dr. Mark Bayfield. She is currently a postdoc in Dr. Ryan Flynn’s lab at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University, where she is exploring RNA biology on the cell surface.

Jingan (Charles) Chen

Jingan (Charles) Chen, currently a graduate student at the University of Toronto, was nominated as an innovative and collaborative RNA scientist whose work is advancing the frontier of RNA therapeutics. By combining RNA engineering, chemical modification, and precision lipid nanoparticle delivery, he transformed suppressor tRNAs into a powerful platform for rescuing disease-causing nonsense mutations, achieving nearly 20-fold enhanced stop-codon readthrough and restoring functional CFTR in patient-derived and animal models. His interdisciplinary research bridges fundamental RNA chemistry and therapeutic translation, establishing new strategies for treating genetic disease positioning him as an emerging leader in RNA medicine.

Jingan (Charles) Chen is a PhD candidate in Dr. Bowen Li’s laboratory at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering. His research focuses on RNA engineering and lipid nanoparticle design to advance precision genetic medicines. He has developed chemically modified suppressor tRNAs that rescue disease-causing nonsense mutations in cystic fibrosis, alongside non-viral delivery systems that target therapeutic RNA to specific tissues. His interdisciplinary research bridges fundamental RNA design and therapeutic development, advancing RNA-based therapies for genetic diseases, with broad applications in gene editing, immunotherapy, and vaccination.

RNA Canada ARN’s Moderna Volunteer of the Year Award

The RNA Canada Volunteer of the Year Award honours outstanding volunteer service within RNA Canada ARN, promoting engagement and community development.

Étienne Fafard-Couture

Étienne Fafard-Couture has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to building and strengthening the Canadian RNA community through sustained, thoughtful, and inclusive service. From his early involvement with RiboClub to his work with RNA Canada ARN’s Membership & Analytics Committee, Étienne has helped shape membership initiatives, expand community engagement, support EDI efforts, and ensure that communications reach researchers in both of Canada’s official languages. Whether developing community surveys, recruiting members, mentoring trainees, or volunteering at national and international RNA meetings, Étienne consistently contributes wherever he can make a difference. His generosity, reliability, and commitment to inclusion exemplify the spirit of volunteerism that sustains a vibrant and connected Canadian RNA community.

Étienne obtained his PhD in Biochemistry at Université de Sherbrooke in 2025. Under the supervision of Michelle Scott and Pierre-Étienne Jacques, he characterized the expression determinants of small nucleolar RNAs across eukaryotes through a transcriptomics and machine learning approach. He is currently a CIHR postdoctoral fellow at Boston University in Ana Fiszbein’s lab, investigating how the processing of terminal exons is regulated in physiological and disease states in human.