Therapeutic Innovation Center

Bridging Innovative RNA Biology and Drug Discovery

Our Mission

By combining multidisciplinary academic innovators with biotech-inspired objectives and focus, our goal is to uncover novel disease solutions by advancing the science of RNA regulation, developing new technological platforms, and discovering early-stage therapeutics.

Our Approach

• Recruit and nucleate current and next generation leaders in RNA biology and cultivate environment of collaboration, technology innovation and entrepreneurship
• Build multi-disciplinary drug discovery teams focused on translating transformative RNA discoveries into therapeutics utilizing biotech best practices
• Integrate academic innovators with therapeutic teams to bridge the gap between discovery and clinically applicable therapies

The center is under the direction of Dr. Trey Westbrook.

Recent Media and Publications

Congratulations to Dr. Steven Boeynaems, THINC faculty member and Assistant Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics, who was awarded a CPRIT grant to study how cells and organisms respond to stress in brain cancer.

Dr. Monica Pillon, THINC faculty member and Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, was awarded an R35 MIRA from NIGMS to study the basic mechanisms driving disease-relevant mitochondrial RNA processing pathways. Congratulations!

Upcoming Events

Check out our RNA Group Talk Schedule for 2023-2024 - Talks begin Sept 18!

Save the Date! 33rd Keck Annual Research Conference and Poster Session, New Frontiers in RNA Biology and Therapeutics on Friday, October 20, 2023. Dr. Monica Pillon, THINC faculty member and Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, is a guest speaker.

Save the Date! FASEB RNA Processing & Cancer Conference is coming to Houston this November! Please visit the Conference’s website for more information. Hope you can join us!