Reacción a "Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology awarded to Ambros and Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNAs and their role in gene regulation"

Personally, I am delighted that the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to two great scientists, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, for their studies that they began in the 80's as postdoctoral students, and then continued as independent researchers on gene regulation and how it allows different cell types to develop or not at a given time.

My research also focuses on the fascinating world of microRNAs, small single-stranded non-coding RNA sequences (between 19-22 nucleotides) that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, either by inhibiting translation or promoting the degradation of messenger RNA (mRNA). Since their discovery, it has been revealed how a single microRNA can regulate more than 100 mRNAs, and likewise, how one mRNA can be regulated by several microRNAs. Furthermore, microRNAs are involved in both health processes and disease development.

I would like to highlight that microRNAs are very promising therapeutic targets and can be used as biomarkers for various diseases, especially in cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In fact, numerous preclinical studies have explored the overexpression or inhibition of certain microRNAs. Some of these studies have progressed to clinical trials, such as Miravirsen, the first drug specifically targeting a microRNA, which is currently in phase II (safety and efficacy evaluation) in patients. However, we must be cautious, as there is still a lot of research and development to be done.

Another aspect that I would like to highlight is that his studies are framed in basic research, specifically in models with small worms (C. elegans), which are often underestimated. It is essential to highlight the importance of these studies for the advancement of scientific knowledge.