Recipient organisationEuropean Bioinformatics Institute
Funding£1.2M
PeriodJun 2025 — Jun 2028
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
The Rfam and RNAcentral databases, which catalogue the diverse roles of RNA molecules across all life forms, are being rebuilt to handle the flood of new genomic data. These two resources are the primary global tools scientists use to identify non-coding RNAs—molecules that regulate genes, catalyse reactions, and drive cellular processes—but they risk falling behind as genome sequencing accelerates. This project addresses a growing bottleneck: as more genomes are sequenced, researchers need efficient, automated ways to find and classify the non-coding RNAs hidden within them. Currently, updating these databases is slow and labour-intensive. The team will develop faster methods for clustering and aligning RNA sequences, integrate new data types such as RNA modifications and structure-probing information, and build a scalable pipeline for annotating non-coding RNAs in any genome. If successful, the work will keep these databases sustainable and up-to-date, enabling fundamental discoveries in RNA biology. The improved annotation tools will also support comparative genomics and biotechnology research. While the project does not have immediate practical applications, it underpins the infrastructure that allows other scientists to develop RNA-based therapies and understand life’s core regulatory mechanisms—much as earlier genomic database work enabled today’s gene-editing and mRNA vaccine technologies.
View original technical description
RNA plays a crucial role in all domains of life, with non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) involved in gene regulation, catalysis, and cellular processes. The Rfam and RNAcentral databases are vital, globally-used resources that enable the scientific community to understand and explore the diverse world of RNAs. This project aims to enhance and sustain these resources, ensuring they remain at the forefront of RNA research. Rfam is the primary database of ncRNA families, providing information on their structures, functions, and evolutionary relationships. RNAcentral serves as a comprehensive database of ncRNA sequences, integrating data from multiple expert databases. Together, these resources form the foundation for ncRNA research and genome annotation. The main objectives of this project are to: Enrich RNAcentral with new types of functional data, including expression, modification, and epigenetic information. Develop efficient methods for clustering and aligning RNAcentral sequences to facilitate the creation and updating of Rfam families. Integrate RNA structure probing data into Rfam and RNAcentral to improve RNA structure prediction and understanding RNA function. Create a comprehensive, scalable pipeline for annotating ncRNAs in genomes to support the growing number of sequenced genomes. Establish a shared, sustainable infrastructure for Rfam and RNAcentral to ensure their long-term efficiency and stability. This work will enable ground breaking research across diverse fields, from fundamental biology to biotechnology and medicine. Enhanced RNA resources will support the discovery of new ncRNAs, the elucidation of their functions, and the development of RNA-based products and therapies. The genome annotation tools developed through this project will be invaluable for the analysis of the rapidly growing number of sequenced genomes, facilitating comparative genomics and experimental studies. The primary beneficiaries of this work will be the global RNA research community, as well as scientists in related fields such as genomics, systems biology, and biotechnology. The resources and tools developed will also support the wider scientific community, educators, and students by providing accessible, high-quality data and educational materials. Ultimately, this project will drive innovation and discovery in RNA science, with far-reaching impacts on the major challenges of this century and our understanding of life's fundamental processes.
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