Non-coding RNAs in Health and Disease

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are molecules able to regulate cell fate both in physiological conditions and in disease by controlling transcriptional or post-transcriptional mechanisms. Originating from “the dark matter” of the genome, ncRNAs lately became increasingly crucial multipurpose regulators of all biological processes, therefore they have gained potential functions as biomarkers or as therapeutic targets.

The main objective of this programme is to develop a transnational and transdisciplinary course that will facilitate current knowledge in the emerging role of ncRNAs both in healthy, as well as in pathological conditions and the regulatory functions of these molecules. 

In order to achieve our aim, a team of academics with expertise in the field of ncRNAs from CIVIS universities was gathered to facilitate and mediate the creation of a blended intensive program (BIP) relevant for the biomedical area (Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Genetics, Physics, Bioengineering, Biotechnologies, Biophysics, Pharmacy, Medical Sciences, etc).

Targeted audience comprises master, as well as PhD students with biological sciences, biotechnology, molecular biology and/ or medical background. The course will be structured in modules, each dedicated to a particular research theme of ncRNAs.

This program is a Blended Intensive Program (BIP), with an extensive virtual component (45 h of teacher-guided activities and 45 h of student individual study) and one week of physical mobility to the organizing university (30 h of face-to-face activities and 20 h of individual study). 

The virtual component includes 9 modules, each comprising of lecture sessions and workshops. We will focus on innovative teaching techniques including brainstorming, journal clubs, experimental design, critical thinking, problem-based learning, flipped classroom, use of bioinformatic tools in experimental analysis.

The physical mobility week will have a balanced program between teaching activities, interactive workshops that include innovative digital aspects, assessment and social interaction. Social events will be organized to promote the multicultural interactions and explore the heritage of Bucharest and Romania.

The total student workload will be 140 hours for the whole BIP course, corresponding to 5 ECTS that will be granted for the successful students that participate to all activities in the program.

The distribution of the modules among the CIVIS partner Universities is equilibrated and well divided according to their expertise, as follows: 

1. Non-coding RNAs in the developmental process and stem cell differentiation 
2. Role of non-coding RNAs in metabolic diseases 
3. Non-coding RNAs in neuropathological conditions 
4. The roles of non-coding RNAs in diabetes
5. Non-coding RNAs interaction with metabolic enzymes (ribo-regulation) 
6. Functions of mRNA non-coding regions
7. Non-coding RNAs role in cancer biology
8. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cell proliferation and differentiation
9. Non-coding RNAs in mitochondrial diseases

At the end of the course, the students will be able to:

• improve their knowledge of ncRNAs as regulators in both physiological and pathological conditions;
• advance their oral communication and experimental design skills, following workshops and presentations sessions;
• develop their skills in critical thinking and analysis of scientific papers;
• enhance their computational and data analysis skills;
• improve multicultural interactions.

The Physical mobility section of the course will be held between 7 - 11 December 2026 in Bucharest, Romania.

The physical mobility program has a balanced structure comprising of lectures, workshop activities, evaluation activities as well as direct interaction to the academic staff, trainers and industry representatives (applicative side of the course). 

This interconnected program will ensure the stated learning outcomes, improving students’ knowledge about ncRNAs in different research areas, developing their oral communication and discussion abilities with the teachers, enhancing their computational and data analysis skills, in general contributing to their scientific development. 

Activities during the physical component totalize 30 hours (5 days x 6 h/day). Each day students will benefit of an invited speaker lecture, workshop activities, evaluation activities (written exam, group presentation, problem-based discussion), presentation from an industry representative. 

Τhe virtual component of the course will be structured in 9 modules of activity, scheduled between 5 October - 4 December 2026. 

Each module consists of 3 days/ week of activities - namely Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting from 6:00 PM CET/ 7:00 PM EET (lectures and discussions with the instructors, in total 5 h/module) and it is dedicated to a particular ncRNAs subject. Each professor will coordinate one module of activities.

Provisional calendar:

• module 1 - 5, 7, 9 October 
• module 2 - 12, 14, 16 October 
• module 3 - 19, 21, 23 October
• module 4 - 26, 28, 30 October 
• module 5 - 2, 4, 6 November
• module 6 - 9, 11, 13 November 
• module 7 - 16, 18, 20 November 
• module 8 - 23, 25, 27 November 
• module 9 - 30 November, 2 & 4 December

Online connection will be ensured by Zoom platform (common link), while all supporting materials, articles, presentations, evaluation forms will be grouped in Moodle. 

The virtual part of the BIP is closely related to the learning outcomes. The students will be able to improve their knowledge regarding the roles and functions of non-coding RNAs in different physiological or pathological conditions due to the generous number of hours allocated for lectures given by experts in the field. 

Skills such as critical thinking, comparative analysis, experimental design will be developed during the workshop hours, under the direct supervision of the experts. Interaction with colleagues from different CIVIS Universities will expand students’ multicultural and learning experiences.

Evaluation activities will be included throughout the programme, both during the virtual component and also during the physical mobility. The students will have to accomplish a series of tasks including critical presentation of scientific publications, producing a synthetic presentation on a given subject, etc. The participation and assistance of the students to different activities will be also considered.

• during the virtual component, students will be evaluated by a short multiple-choice test after the lecture part (30% of the final grade);
• during the physical component, student evaluation will consist of a written report based on a workshop activity and of an oral assessment on a given non-coding RNA in front of the colleagues and professors (70% of the final grade).

During the virtual component, interactive online lectures will be provided by the teachers, during which students will be able to put forth their questions. A flipped classroom approach will also be employed. Workshop sessions, in which critical analysis of scientific papers will be performed under teacher guidance, will allow the students to gain important skills such as critical thinking, problem-based learning, development of an experimental design, as well as teamwork.

Moreover, during the physical component, students and teachers will participate in lectures that will allow the transition from the theoretical aspects to the practical application of ncRNAs in research and industry. Also, the use of novel digital methods will allow the students to enhance their bioinformatic expertise.

Motivation Letter

Level of english (According to CEFR)

CV

Applications will be evaluated based on the documents above.

• Prof. Monica Ballarino, Sapienza Università di Roma (SUR) is an expert on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cell proliferation and differentiation;
  
• Prof. Francesca Cutruzzola, Sapienza Università di Roma (SUR) works on non-coding RNAs interaction with metabolic enzymes (ribo-regulation);
  
• Prof. Mariana Igoillo-Esteve (ULB) will share her expertise regarding the roles of non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of diabetes;
• Prof. Faiza Fakhfakh, University of Sfax will share her expertise on ncRNAs controlling mitochondrial dysfunctions;
• Prof. Romano Regazzi, University of Lausanne (UNIL) works on the role of non-coding RNAs in metabolic diseases;
• Prof. Thorsten Schmidt & Prof. Nicolas Casadei, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (UT) are experts on non-coding RNAs in neuropathological conditions;
• Prof. Cyril Gueydan, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) will emphasize the functions of mRNA non-coding regions;
• Prof. Margaritis Avgeris, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) will share his knowledge on non-coding RNAs role in cancer;
• Prof. Sorina Dinescu, University of Bucharest is the course coordinator and will share her expertise on non-coding RNAs in the developmental process and stem cell differentiation.