Julia Alterman
Assistant Professor UMass Chan Medical School
Julia Alterman, PhD has been working in therapeutic development in industry and academia since 2007, and in RNA therapeutics since 2013. She began her scientific career in chemical biology and in vitro pharmacology, holding positions at two small biotech companies in the Boston area. During this time, she worked on novel small molecules and peptide-lipid conjugates for the treatment of inflammatory indications and metabolic diseases, respectively. In 2014, Julia joined Dr Anastasia Khvorova’s lab in the RNA Therapeutics Institute at UMass Chan Medical School to pursue her PhD developing chemically durable, safe, and effective therapeutic oligonucleotides. Her research focused on a novel branched siRNA scaffold with widespread and potent silencing in the central nervous system. This work was licensed exclusively to Atalanta Therapeutics, which is focused on developing this structure for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Since joining the RTI as faculty in 2021, Julia has been collaborating with both academia and industry to develop novel siRNA therapeutics for a wide range of genetically defined diseases.
Seminars
RNAi therapeutics are constantly expanding into increasingly challenging tissues and chronic disease indications, making optimising oligonucleotide chemistry essential for improving both therapeutic performance and commercial viability. This workshop will explore how novel chemical modifications can enhance stability, circulation time and tissue exposure, enabling more durable gene silencing and less frequent dosing. Attendees will examine emerging approaches designed to overcome key barriers such as RNA degradation, poor intracellular trafficking and limited endosomal escape, while balancing potency, safety and manufacturability. The session will also discuss
how advances in chemistry are helping developers extend the clinical lifespan of RNAi assets, reduce dose burden for patients, unlock applications beyond traditional liver-directed therapies and, with an off-target strategy lens, how these decisions are assessed and defended through the regulatory process.
Join this workshop to:
- Assess chemical modifications that enhance durability and circulation time
- Improve therapeutic performance while reducing dose burden
- Extend the commercial and clinical viability of RNAi assets
- Overcome challenges like endosomal escape or RNA degradation
- Understanding the drivers of RNAi-related toxicity
- Optimizing delivery, chemistry & dosing to improve therapeutic index
- Building confidence in safety as RNAi expands beyond the liver
