RNA Society Awards Recognize ASBMB Members' Excellence
The RNA Society's 2026 awards have been announced, and three American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) members have been honored for their groundbreaking contributions to RNA science. This year's recipients are Brenda Bass, Can Cenik, and Karin Musier-Forsyth, who will be celebrated at the RNA 2026 annual meeting's closing awards ceremony.
Brenda Bass: Lifetime Achievement in Science
Brenda Bass, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah School of Medicine, has been awarded the RNA Society Lifetime Achievement in Science award. Her research focuses on cellular double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) and the proteins that mediate their functions. Bass made a groundbreaking discovery as a postdoctoral fellow, identifying an enzyme that covalently modifies dsRNA, now known as adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR). Her work has been instrumental in establishing the biological relevance of RNA editing, a field she has been a pioneer in.
Bass's contributions to the field are extensive. She has provided the first 3D structure of an ADAR, defined its substrate specificity, and identified natural ADAR substrates. Her lab's research has paved the way for a deeper understanding of RNA editing and its impact on cellular processes. Bass's achievements have been recognized with numerous accolades, including membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, as well as fellowships from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She has also received prestigious grants, such as the NIH Director's Pioneer Award and the Transformative Research Award, and has served in various editorial and advisory roles.
Can Cenik: Biomedical Innovation in RNA
Can Cenik, an associate professor of molecular biosciences at the University of Texas at Austin, has been awarded the Moderna Award for Biomedical Innovation in RNA. This award acknowledges innovative contributions to the use and function of RNA in biomedicine, disease processes, and treatments. Cenik's lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms governing the translation of specific RNAs, aiming to develop computational and experimental models that predict protein abundance in cells.
Cenik's team has developed a ribosome profiling approach to measure translation in single cells and low-input samples across various biological contexts, including development, cancer, and immunology. They have also created RiboNN, a deep learning model that predicts translation efficiency from mRNA sequences across hundreds of cell types. Additionally, they have established a translation efficiency covariation framework, revealing conserved regulation across mammalian tissues.
Karin Musier-Forsyth: Distinguished Research Mentor
Karin Musier-Forsyth, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Ohio State University, has been awarded the Distinguished Research Mentor award. This recognition highlights her outstanding mentorship in RNA research, and she receives a cash prize of $500. Musier-Forsyth's lab investigates RNAs and proteins involved in retroviral replication and the mechanisms governing protein translation.
Her research focuses on aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, enzymes that attach the appropriate amino acids to their corresponding tRNAs during protein synthesis. Musier-Forsyth's work has contributed to a deeper understanding of the editing mechanisms of these enzymes. Her dedication to mentorship has been recognized with various awards, including the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award and the Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry. She serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Biological Chemistry, further showcasing her impact on the scientific community.
These awards highlight the exceptional contributions of ASBMB members to the field of RNA science. Their research has not only advanced our understanding of RNA's role in various biological processes but has also opened new avenues for biomedical innovation and mentorship in the scientific community.
