Blog Post

RNA researchers from Canada and all over the world recently convened in Orford, QC for the 2025 RiboClub conference (September 21^st to 25^th, 2025).  RiboClub reconvened after a one-year hiatus to accommodate the national RNA Canada ARN conference in Ottawa in 2024, and this year’s theme was “The Next Generation of RNA Innovation from Agriculture to Medicine”.

Keynote talks for the conference were given by Nobel Laureate Tom Cech (U. Colorado at Boulder, Wendy Gilbert (Yale University), Manny Ares (UC Santa Cruz), John Mattick (Garvin Institute) and Stephen Scaringe (founder of Dharmacon).  In addition to the scientific program, multiple other special sessions were featured, including a Sponsor’s Session on RNA Technology, a dedicated presentation from guests representing the Colorado RNA community, and an Academia-Industry event in partnership with AReNA, ARN Quebec and Genome Quebec.

RNA Canada ARN was present and active at RiboClub, starting with an RNA Canada ARN open house on the conference’s opening day, where attendees could learn about our goals, accomplishments and the benefits of becoming members.  Throughout the conference, RNA Canada ARN hosted an information and merchandise table, disseminating our most recent newsletter, signing up new members and volunteers, as well as selling RNA Canada ARN t-shirts, pins and stickers.

RNA Canada ARN also featured an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion workshop, coordinated by Jennifer Porat and Isabella Todd.  This year’s EDI workshop focus was on career transitions, and had enthusiastic engagement from participants through the use of surveys and attendee comments.  RNA Canada ARN also hosted a one-hour patient panel, hosted by Martin Sauvageau, in which patients, clinicians and advocacy groups discussed their experiences and ongoing efforts relating to challenges associated with RNA-based diseases.   RNA Canada ARN also gave a dedicated information presentation to conference registrants where we highlighted our accomplishments thus far, including our member engagement and educational programs, as well as our future plans for augmenting the RNA research ecosystem in Canada.

The conference gala dinner featured the presentation of several prestigious awards.  The 2025 RNA Canada ARN-Moderna awards were presented to Maria Vera Ugalde (McGill University) for her group’s work on spatially distributed chaperone mRNAs in neurons (Discovery of the Year); Jack Li (University of Toronto; Trainee of the Year) and Laurence Faucher-Giguère (Université de Sherbrooke; Volunteer of the Year).  The gala also featured the Blue Jacket award for service contributions to the Canadian RNA community.  This year’s recipients of the Blue Jacket award were Trushar Patel (U. of Lethbridge) and Barbara Papadopoulou (U. Laval). Finally, the awards for top student poster presentations were awarded to Frédérique Goulet (1^stplace, Université de Sherbrooke); Laurence Faucher-Giguère (2^nd place, U. der Sherbrooke) and Alice Morgunova (3^rd place, McGill University), while the awards for the best flash talks were awarded to Georgia Barone (U of Colorado, Boulder) and Sophie Sigfstead (U of Alberta).  The people’s choice award for best poster was awarded to Juliette Royer (U. de Lyon). Congratulations to all the award winners!

The final day featured talks by the best student seminar of the year award winner, Elizabeith Trofimenkov (U. of Lethbridge), and the Riboclub alumnus of the year, Tommy Alain (CHEO Institute, U. of Ottawa).

 Next year’s Riboclub conference will be from October 4^th to 8^th, 2026, and the theme is: “RNA & Antimicrobial Resistance”. We can’t wait to see you there!