We had an incredible one day workshop at SHINE VIT with Dr. Adi Idris (Queensland University of Technology) stepping in as our Adjunct Professor to lead an intensive deep dive into RNA based gene targeting therapies against viruses.

From the very first session, Dr. Idris brought his pioneering research on direct acting antivirals—like the world’s first RNA therapeutic for COVID 19—to life through real world case studies, hands on protocol design, and robust discussions on translating lab bench discoveries into clinical candidates. Participants walked away with practical skills in:

• Designing siRNA and antisense molecules for viral gene knockdown
• Formulating and characterizing lipid nanoparticles and EV based delivery vectors
• Setting up qPCR and plaque assay pipelines to quantify antiviral efficacy
• Mapping regulatory pathways for first in human studies

A huge thank you to Dr. Idris for sharing his expertise and to everyone who joined us for an action packed day of collaboration, innovation, and next generation therapeutic strategy building!