Dr. Richard Collins

Canada Research Chair in Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics
Tier 1 - January 1, 2001
Health

Research Involves

Understanding how RNA functions

Research Relevance

The structures of RNA molecules are crucial to many normal cellular functions. Infectious agents such as viruses also depend on RNA. Understanding how RNA molecules function may lead to new medical treatments and industrial applications.

Back to Biological Basics

Though less famous than its chemical cousin DNA, RNA is one of the essential building blocks of biology. In fact, scientists speculate that the emergence of RNA on earth set the stage for DNA to become the biochemical cornerstone of life as we know it.

Moreover, while DNA is well known as the molecule that stores genetic information, RNA plays a crucial part in how organisms use that information. For that reason, researchers have begun to devote more attention to the function of RNA. They are attempting to understand which specific parts of these complex molecules are the sites of chemical reactions. They are also examining the intricate fashion in which these molecules are folded, which could reveal details about the kinds of functions they perform.

Richard Collins has discovered new features of RNA structure and function. These features point to the potential of these molecules to promote reactions with medical or industrial applications. Yet before such practical matters can be realized, many questions will have to be answered regarding how the function of RNA relates to its structure.

As the holder of a Canada Research Chair, Collins will be looking for the answers to those questions. Using a diverse series of investigative technologies, he and his colleagues intend to acquire much more basic information about how RNA is arranged and what it does. This multi-faceted approach is integral to their strategy, which will use their ongoing findings to guide the future direction of their work. Collins describes the eventual outcome as nothing less than a "gold mine" of information that could make RNA one of the 21st century’s most important chemical agents.

For further information, please contact Dr. Richard Collins using the Email contact form or by phone at 416 978-3541