【Abstract】
Pharmaceuticals have been designed to target proteins that are the cause of diseases so far.
However, recently, various types of ribonucleic acids (RNAs), including messenger RNAs, which serve as blueprints for proteins, and non-coding RNAs, which regulate the amount of protein synthesis, have attracted attention as new targets for drug discovery.
We have established the Sophia RNA-targeted Drug Design Unit within the Faculty of Science and Technology as a research hub for RNA-targeted drug discovery in Japan that supports pharmaceutical R&D by Japanese pharma companies and academics using our unique structural analysis and design technologies.

【Future prospects】
The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) operates the Basis for Supporting Innovative Drug Discovery and Life Science Research platform (BINDS), which comprises 30 Japanese universities and research institutions, and our research unit is positioned as its research hub for RNA-targeted drug discovery.
We work closely with the other institutes that make up the BINDS platform to ensure seamless drug discovery in normal times and rapid drug discovery in emergencies, such as pandemics.