Unlocking the Mysteries of Extracellular RNA Communication

Once thought to exist only inside cells, RNA is now known to travel outside of cells and play a role in newly discovered mechanisms of cell-to-cell communication. Are these extracelluar RNAs (exRNAs) involved in diseases like cancer, heart disease or neurological diseases like Alzheimer's? Could scientists learn how to use exRNAs to diagnose diseases earlier or even to treat these diseases? The NIH Common Fund's Extracellular RNA Communication program aims to unlock the mysteries of exRNAs, uncovering their roles in human health and disease.