Leibniz Institute on Aging and University of Jena investigate role of ribosomal RNA in cancer and ageing processes

Joint research group investigates rRNA as a biomarker and basis for new therapeutic approaches

According to a recent study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of cancer cases worldwide will increase by up to 77% by 2050, particularly in industrialised countries. Increasing life expectancy is considered a key driver of this trend.

Against this backdrop, the Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) and Friedrich Schiller University Jena launched the new research project ‘KreDiT RNA’ in January 2026 to investigate the relationship between ageing, rRNA-coding genes and cancer in detail. The jointly led research group of the two JenaVersum partners, which currently has five employees at two locations, is supervised by Prof. Christoph Englert (FLI) and Dr Holger Bierhoff (Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Jena).

The activity of rRNA genes controls the production of ribosomes, the cell’s ‘factories’ for the manufacture of proteins. Overactive rRNA genes lead to increased cell growth and can promote tumour formation, while their inhibition can slow down ageing processes, at least in simple model organisms such as nematodes. Specific inhibition of rRNA synthesis would therefore be a promising cancer therapy, but suitable inhibitors have not yet been clinically established. RNA-based treatment approaches could offer new possibilities here, however. A particularly innovative approach of the ‘KreDiT RNA’ project is the use of the short-lived fish species Nothobranchius furzeri as a model for age-related cancer development. Through targeted genetic manipulation of rRNA synthesis, the aim is to investigate how changes in this system influence cancer development over the course of a lifetime.

The research group is supported by both clinical partners and Thuringian biotech companies. In addition, SPARK@FLI, a special funding programme of the FLI, helps researchers with the translational implementation of their findings. A particular concern of ‘KreDiT RNA’ is to make research more sustainable and environmentally friendly. To this end, the participants will complete training and receive certification from My Green Lab.

The project will be funded by the Thüringer Aufbaubank (TAB) with €1 million over the next three years. With this integrative approach, KreDiT RNA combines basic research, innovative animal models, clinical relevance and sustainability to open up new avenues in cancer diagnostics and therapy.