Synthetic Introns to target and understand SRSF2 mutant myelodysplastic syndromes.

2025

Overview

The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation granted Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center a $250,000 grant over two years to support early career researcher Dr. Salima Benbarche.

Details

Dr. Benbarche will conduct this research with the support of her mentor Dr. Omar Abdel-Wahab to create special synthetic RNA introns that can detect the mutated SRSF2 cells from the normal cells. These synthetic RNAs act as molecular switches that only turn “on” in cancer cells with SRSF2 mutations. When activated, these synthetic introns can deliver therapeutic substances specifically to cancer cells, resulting in their elimination while protecting healthy cells.

Learn more about Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.