Taavi Lehto, associate professor of nanobiotechnology

RNA Therapeutics Research Group

RNA therapeutics encompass a broad group of RNA-based or RNA-targeting pharmacological agents, including short antisense oligonucleotides, modified mRNA, and the CRISPR/Cas9 system. These agents can be used to pharmacologically influence gene expression by silencing/activating genes, altering their splicing patterns, or specific sequences. In our research, we focus on the development of the aforementioned RNA therapeutics and study their behavior in various neurodegenerative, neuromuscular, and inflammation-related disease models. Since RNA-based therapeutics exhibit low bioavailability, we also develop efficient and safe drug delivery systems for transporting these molecules.

Our main research topics include:

1. Development of novel antisense-based therapeutic agents for splicing modulation therapy.
2. Development of various drug delivery systems for transporting modified mRNA and the CRISPR/Cas9 system.
3. Development of cell-specific drug delivery systems.
4. Investigation of intracellular transport mechanisms of RNA-based therapeutics and drug delivery systems.

If you are interested in our research, please contact us at: taavi.lehto@ut.ee

Publications can be found here.

Researchers: 

Helena Sork (helena.sork@ut.ee)

Tõnis Lehto (tonis.lehto@ut.ee)

Annely Lorents (annely.lorents@ut.ee)

Doctoral students:

Rahel Vaga

Obedoulaye Boukary