Therapeutic mRNA Landscapes: Design, Delivery, and Disease Applications
September 3, 2026
mRNA as Medicine: Design, Delivery, and Disease Applications
Theme of the 1st mRNA medicine symposium at Heidelberg University
mRNA medicine utilizes or targets messenger RNA in specific cells. Recent progress in mRNA design, manufacturing, and delivery methods is enabling new molecular approaches to treat cancers, genetic diseases, metabolic syndromes, as well as cardiovascular and immunological diseases. This one-day symposium aims to discuss the current progress in mRNA-based therapeutics and will address a broad spectrum of subjects, including fundamental aspects of mRNA biology, regulatory mechanisms of mRNA molecules in both health and disease, and the evolving application of mRNA-based technologies in disease diagnosis and treatment. Sessions will also address the basic challenges of organ-specific delivery, approaches for crossing biological barriers, scalable manufacturing processes, and approaches optimizing lipid nanoparticle composition and mRNA payloads.
Designed with a strong training focus for early-career researchers in the life sciences as well as in medicine and in bridging researchers of the Field of Focus 1 and the Flagship Initiative Engineering Molecular Systems, the symposium will feature talks and discussion formats that highlight practical experimental strategies, emerging technologies, and perspectives tailored to Master students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral fellows. Young scientists will have opportunities to interact directly with speakers, present their work in dedicated poster sessions, and receive feedback on ongoing projects in an informal, supportive environment.
The overarching objective is to facilitate the development of next-generation mRNA therapies for precision medicine at the life science campus of Heidelberg University, leveraging the available cutting-edge expertise at multiple levels. By bringing together leading scientists from our scientific community – from basic, translational, and clinical research – the symposium aims to spark collaboration and drive innovation in therapeutic approaches.
Our main objectives are:
To examine the mechanisms of mRNA regulation in both health and disease, focusing on mRNA processing, mRNA-binding proteins, and nucleoside modification.
To evaluate challenges of mRNA delivery
To discuss the potential of mRNA technologies and novel engineering approaches in diagnostics and therapy.
Organizing committee
Maïwen Caudron-Herger
Florian Leuschner
Philipp Uhl
Mirko Völkers
Location
Heidelberg University, Germany
Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim
Tiergartenstraße 15
69120 Heidelberg
Program
September 3, 2026
| 08:00 – 08:45 | Arrival |
| 08:50 – 09:00 | Welcome and organizational issues |
| 09:00 – 10:45 | Session 1: mRNA biology and regulatory mechanisms in disease Chairs: Michaela Frye, Vivien Kmietczyk Presentations (15min +5min Discussion):
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| 10:45 – 11:15 | Coffee Break |
| 11:15 – 13:00 | Session 2: mRNA technology and delivery: Challenges and perspectives Chairs: Philipp Uhl, Tom Eisenzapf Presentations (15min +5min Discussion):
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| 13:00 – 13:45 | Lunch Break |
| 13:45 – 14:45 | Poster Session Walk |
| 14:45 – 16:30 | Session 3: mRNAs – diagnostic tools and therapeutic potential Chairs: Mirko Völkers, Miriam Breunig Presentations (15min +5min Discussion):
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| 16:30 – 17:00 | Coffee Break |
| 17:00 – 17:45 | Keynote Lecture
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| 17:45 | Outlook and conclusions |
| 18:00 | Get together and barbeque: Roof top Terrasse |
Sponsors
