This conversation with D2R Training Program Officer, Anthony Van Kessel, has been edited for length and clarity.

Hi Ibrahim, thanks for sitting down with me for this interview! You are doing your PhD at the Universit茅 de Sherbrooke supervised by Professor Karine Choquet and are a D2R Doctoral Scholar. How did you learn about D2R and what made you want to apply for the award?

The D2R program immediately stood out because it goes beyond traditional funding to really create a bridge between fundamental RNA biology and therapeutic applications. I have a long-term goal of contributing to RNA therapeutics, so this environment where interdisciplinary training connects fundamental science to real clinical impact felt like a natural continuation of my scientific interests.

Is your funded D2R project the first time you have worked on RNA biology or therapeutics?

Yes, during my Master鈥檚 in Paris I worked on myopathy, so my work at Sherbrooke is my first experience in RNA biology.

Was all of your previous education in France?

No, I did my undergrad in Morocco in microbiology, then I did my Master鈥檚 in Paris. And now my PhD at Sherbrooke.

Are you enjoying your time in Sherbrooke, and do you want to stay in Canada long term?

Yes, I really enjoy being in Sherbrooke 鈥� it is a small city but is very green and a great place to do my PhD. I will see after a postdoc, but I want to go back to my country, Niger, to build a lab and make a difference there.

Now that you are part of D2R, have you enjoyed the D2R Training events so far?

One aspect that has been particularly valuable is the diversity of the training activities. For example, workshops like 鈥淒emystifying Data Science鈥� were very insightful, especially regarding concepts such as research ethics and reproducibility, which are essential when working with large-scale datasets. And another important element is the emphasis on EDI and how these principles can be integrated into research practices. So, altogether, these training experiences go beyond technical skills and help shape a more responsible and well-rounded approach to science.

That鈥檚 great to hear! And about your specific research project 鈥� it focuses on splicing order and how that influences alternative splicing during vertebrate muscle differentiation. That鈥檚 a complicated sounding topic, so let鈥檚 break it down 鈥� what is vertebrate muscle differentiation?

Good question. Vertebrate muscle differentiation is the process through which precursor cells, known as myoblasts, become mature muscle fibers. So, this transition involves major changes in gene expression including extensive regulation at the RNA level. Alternative splicing is highly dynamic during this process, making muscle differentiation a very powerful model to study RNA regulation.

Okay, yes many people in the D2R community will be aware of what alternative splicing is, but the concept of splicing order is a little more complex. Can you explain that?

Yes, splicing order refers to the specific order in which introns are removed from a pre-mRNA molecule, and this process is not strictly linear from 5鈥� to 3鈥�. Instead, some introns are removed earlier, while others are removed later. And this this process appears to be predetermined in transcripts containing multiple introns. So, in the context of my work, introns flanking alternative exons tend to be excised last and this delayed removal likely creates a temporal window during which regulatory proteins can bind to the RNA and influence whether an exon is included or skipped.

Ah okay, so depending on splicing order, the same gene can code for multiple proteins?

Yes, exactly. Different splicing outcomes can generate different mRNA isoforms, which can then produce different protein isoforms. What is interesting in our work is that the order of intron removal may help regulate these alternative splicing decisions, and we also want to understand whether this mechanism is conserved through evolution.

Have you鈥檝e learned anything interesting so far in your project?

Yeah, one key insight from this work is that splicing regulation involves an important temporal dimension. Like it is not only which exons are included, but also when introns are removed. So, this timing can significantly influence alternative splicing outcomes. Another important aspect is that this mechanism appears to be conserved across species in my preliminary data suggesting a functional role in gene regulation.

At D2R, we are always trying to think about how the research is contributing to the goal of developing the next generation of RNA therapeutics. Do you see your project leading to therapy development?

My project contributes to RNA therapeutics by providing a more precise understanding of how splicing is regulated over time. Antisense oligonucleotides, which are used to correct splicing defects, rely on accessing pre-mRNA at the right moment. For example, if introns are removed too early, the therapeutic molecule may not have enough time to bind effectively. So, in contrast, delayed removal creates a longer window of opportunity. By understanding and potentially predicting this timing, it becomes possible to design more efficient RNA-based therapies. This is particularly relevant for muscles diseases, like dysferlinopathies.

Before we wrap up, is there any fun fact that you want the D2R community to know about you?

Outside of research, I really enjoy sports, particularly soccer, which helps maintain a good balance. Also, I enjoy traveling and discovering new cultures as they provide different perspectives and encourage openness. This naturally connects to my interest in scientific collaboration in interdisciplinary and international environments. I also enjoy organizing events and bringing people together to build stronger communities.

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