Spring 2026 | Chemistry Seminar Series
"Progress and Opportunities in RNA Therapeutics Changing the Landscape of Drug Discovery"
Daniel Miller
Senior Principal Scientist, Eli Lilly and Company ~ Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis
Thursday, February 19th, 3:30pm in FB-253
Abstract: This presentation centers on the design and synthesis of siRNA therapeutics and their growing impact on genetic medicine It highlights how thoughtful sequence selection, strategic chemical modifications, and metabolic stability engineering enable siRNA molecules to achieve potent, sustained gene silencing Key aspects of synthesis, including patterning of 2 modifications, phosphorothioate incorporation, duplex architecture, and ligand conjugation, are discussed in the context of generating drug like oligonucleotides with predictable behavior in vivo. The talk also outlines how delivery strategies, particularly conjugate and CNS focused approaches, integrate with synthetic design to advance siRNA candidates toward clinical readiness Together, these elements illustrate how modern oligosynthesis underpins the expanding therapeutic potential of siRNA.