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SMART Symposium on RNA Editing: From Biology to Therapy

SMART

Date

January 5-8, 2026

Registration Deadline

January 2, 2026

Venue

Cloud Park International Conference Center, Shenzhen, China

About

Organizers

Confirmed Speakers

Program

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About

We are living through an exciting era in the field of RNA editing, marked by significant developments in recent years. This unique symposium will bring together leading scientists from around the world to discuss cutting-edge advancements in RNA editing and related topics. Among the many subjects to be covered, we will explore the basic mechanisms and functions of RNA editing, as well as its role in RNA sensing, innate immunity, and immune-mediated diseases. Furthermore, the meeting will address various aspects of therapeutic applications enabled by RNA editing, which hold great potential for overcoming the challenges associated with CRISPR-based DNA editing approaches. We welcome scientists from diverse fields to contribute their unique perspectives to this meeting.

Organizers

Jin Billy LI, Stanford University

Thorsten STAFFORST, University of Tübingen

Confirmed Speakers

(in alphabetic order)

Hiroshi ABE, Nagoya University

Dan BAR YAACOV, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Brenda BASS, The University of Utah

Peter BEAL, University of California, Davis

Shay BEN AROYA, Bar-Ilan University

Polly Leilei CHEN, National University of Singapore

Hachung CHUNG, Columbia University

Yuval DOR, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Eli EISENBERG, Tel Aviv University

Yang GAO, Rice University

Chenhui HAO, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences

Shibin HU, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation

Josh HUANG, Duke University

Heather HUNDLEY, Indiana University

Michael JANTSCH, Medical University of Vienna

Inga JARMOSKAITE, AIRNA

Hiroki KATO, University of Bonn

Yukio KAWAHARA, The University of Osaka

Erez LEVANON, Bar-Ilan University

Lei LI, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory

Shulin LIU, Nankai University

Jinbiao MA, Fudan University

Kazuko NISHIKURA, The Wistar Institute

Manolis PASPARAKIS, University of Cologne

Shuangshuang PU, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College

Philipp REAUTSCHNIG, University of Tübingen

Nakamura TAKAHIRO, Kyushu University

Meng How TAN, Nanyang Technological University

Carl WALKLEY, Hudson Institute of Medical Research

Wensheng WEI, Peking University

Xinshu Grace XIAO, University of California, Los Angeles

Longyong XU, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory

Rui ZHANG, Sun Yat-sen University

NOTE: More speakers to be announced.

Program

Day 1 (Monday, January 5)
09:00-14:00	On-site Registration

Pre-meeting Workshop (Please bring your computer) Location: Meeting Room A & B, 4/F, Cloud Park International Conference Center
14:30-16:00	Concurrent Topic 1. Bioinformatic analysis of RNA editing This workshop covers basic computational analyses for RNA editing studies. Organized by Rui ZHANG, Sun Yat-sen University
14:30-16:00	Concurrent Topic 2. Engineering principles for recruiting ADAR with encodable gRNAs This workshop covers how to design encodable guide RNAs for ADAR-mediated transcriptome engineering. Organized by Philipp REAUTSCHNIG, University of Tübingen
16:00-16:30	Break

Keynote Session RNA Editing: Past, Current, and Future Location: 3/F, Cloud Park International Conference Center
16:30-17:10	Brenda BASS, University of Utah ADARs then and now: mechanistic insights for the future
17:10-17:50	Kazuko NISHIKURA, Wistar Institute A-to-I RNA editing by ADAR: from enigmatic origin to translational application in cancer therapy & innate immunity regulation

Day 2 (Tuesday, January 6)
08:00-08:30	On-site Registration
08:30-08:45	Opening Remarks Jin Billy LI, Stanford University Thorsten STAFFORST, University of Tübingen

Session I Chair: Carl WALKLEY, Hudson Institute of Medical Research Focus: Fundamental understanding of RNA editing and RNA sensing, ranging from the regulation, mechanism and functions
08:45-09:15	Carl WALKLEY, Hudson Institute of Medical Research Defining editing dependent and editing independent functions of ADAR1
09:15-09:30	Dan BAR YAACOV, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev When we can’t trust bacterial DNA: A-to-I RNA editing generates protein isoforms with altered function in bacteria
09:30-09:50	Heather HUNDLEY, Indiana University How do ADARs achieve binding specificity in vivo?
09:50-10:10	Eli EISENBERG, Tel Aviv University Combinatorial diversity due to extensive recoding in the neural proteome of cephalopods
10:10-10:40	Group Photo and Break
10:40-11:00	Michael JANTSCH, Medical University of Vienna Loss of A-to-I editing reproducibly affects m6A abundance at a limited number of sites
11:00-11:20	Hiroki KATO, University of Bonn RIG-I like receptors and type I interferonopathies

11:20-12:10	Panel Discussion Chairs: Carl WALKLEY, Hudson Institute of Medical Research Jin Billy LI, Stanford University

12:10-14:00	Lunch

Session II Chair: Thorsten STAFFORST, University of Tübingen Focus: Engineering targeted editing with endogenous ADAR; principles to design guide RNAs & ASOs, Proof-of-concept, where are we, how can we improve
14:00-14:30	Thorsten STAFFORST, University of Tübingen RNA base editing with ADAR
14:30-14:50	Wensheng WEI, Peking University Bringing LEAPER editing toward clinical application
14:50-15:10	Hiroshi ABE, Nagoya University mRNA molecular design for drug discovery
15:10-15:30	Philipp REAUTSCHNIG, University of Tübingen Key factors for precise and efficient RNA base editing in the CNS
15:30-15:50	Inga JARMOSKAITE, AIRNA High-throughput screening reveals modular RNA sequence features that enhance programmable RNA editing
15:50-16:20	Break
16:20-16:40	Peter BEAL, University of California, Davis Rewriting genetic information in RNA using oligonucleotide-directed adenosine deamination
16:40-17:00	Rui ZHANG, Sun Yat-sen University Leveraging MIRROR gRNAs to harness endogenous ADARs for in vivo RNA editing

17:00-17:50	Panel Discussion Chairs: Thorsten STAFFORST, University of Tübingen Peter BEAL, University of California, Davis

17:50-20:00	Banquet
20:00-22:00	Poster Session

Day 3 (Wednesday, January 7)
08:00-08:30	On-site Registration

Session III Chair: Hachung CHUNG, Columbia University Focus: Roles of RNA editing and sensing in health and diseases
08:30-09:00	Hachung CHUNG, Columbia University Understanding how ADAR1 regulates double-stranded RNAs
09:00-09:20	Jin Billy LI, Stanford University Genetic evidence for RNA editing-related mechanisms in immune-related diseases
09:20-09:40	Yuval DOR, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Impaired RNA editing as a path to islet inflammation and diabetes
09:40-10:00	Grace XIAO, University of California, Los Angeles ADAR1, hnRNP M, and the dsRNA substrates that trigger MDA5 activation
10:00-10:30	Break
10:30-10:50	Erez LEVANON, Bar-Ilan University RNA editing at the single cell level
10:50-11:10	Lei LI, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Atlas of cell type-specific post-transcriptional genetic impacts in immune-related diseases
11:10-12:00	Panel Discussion Chairs: Hachung CHUNG, Columbia University Yuval DOR, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

13:30-20:00	City Tour

Day 4 (Thursday, January 8)
08:00-08:30	On-site Registration

Session IV Chair: Josh HUANG, Duke University Focus: Applying ADAR editing and engineering editing; editing beyond rare mutations, editing beyond A-to-I, engineered ADARs, RADAR approaches
08:30-09:00	Josh HUANG, Duke University Reading and writing animal cells through RNA programmable cell editing
09:00-09:20	Yang GAO, Rice University Molecular basis of ADAR1-mediated RNA editing
09:20-09:40	Takahiro NAKAMURA, Kyushu University Expanding RNA editing technologies with synthetic PPR-DYW proteins
09:40-10:00	Shay BEN AROYA, Bar-Ilan University Deciphering the factors governing the exceptional editing activity of avian ADARs and their recognition of dsRNA substrates
10:00-10:30	Break
10:30-10:45	Shulin LIU, Nankai University Harnessing aptamer-guided ADAR1 for RNA editing
10:45-11:00	Chenhui HAO, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences An ADAR2-mimic base editor for efficient C-to-U RNA editing in vivo
11:00-11:20	Meng How TAN, Nanyang Technological University Efficient, site-specific RNA editing with engineered ADARs and CRISPR-Cas13s
11:20-12:10	Panel Discussion Chairs: Josh HUANG, Duke University Meng How TAN, Nanyang Technological University

12:10-14:00	Lunch

Session V Chair: Polly CHEN, National University of Singapore Focus: Mechanisms of RNA editing in evading the RNA sensing by MDA5, PKR, ZBP1, etc.
14:00-14:30	Polly CHEN, National University of Singapore From sensing to silence - dsRNA pathways and ADAR1-driven immune evasion
14:30-14:50	Manolis PASPARAKIS, University of Cologne ADAR1 and ZBP1 cross talk in cell death and interferon signaling
14:50-15:05	Longyong XU, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory IRE1a silences dsRNA to cancer immune evasion
15:05-15:20	Shuangshuang PU, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College RNA editing safeguards hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis
15:20-15:50	Break
15:50-16:10	Yukio KAWAHARA, Osaka University Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying Adar1 mutation-driven encephalopathy
16:10-16:30	Shibin HU, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation ZBP1 facilitates MDA5 sensing of Z-RNA
16:30-16:50	Jinbiao MA, Fudan University Molecular mechanism of the A-Z transition induced by ADAR1 and ZBP1

16:50-17:40	Panel Discussion Chairs: Polly CHEN, National University of Singapore Manolis PASPARAKIS, University of Cologne
17:40-17:50	Closing Remarks and Poster Awards

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Official Symposium Notice

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