UCLA Riboforum
The UCLA Riboforum is a consortium of RNA research groups within the Divisions of Life and Physical Sciences, the Samueli School of Engineering, and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Riboforum serves to foster community, information exchange, and training in the biology and chemistry of RNA molecules and to further their technological and medical applications. Riboforum started in 2020 and currently includes 30 PIs and their research groups. The membership includes labs whose primary research is on RNA, as well as groups pursuing an RNA project within another area of biology. Riboforum meets once per month during the academic year with each meeting having two talks by students, postdocs, or visiting scientists. These meetings are open to all members of the UCLA community and are sometimes also attended by colleagues from neighboring institutions. We also host social events and a Spring poster session for trainees. We receive support from the Salon Program of the RNA Society, Lexogen GmbH, the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the UCLA Molecular Biology Institute.
The upcoming Riboforum schedule includes 9 meetings and a total of 18 speakers.
Please sign up for the mailing list here.
Please sign up to give a talk here.
The primary intent of UCLA Riboforum is to facilitate the sharing of RNA research and to promote the RNA community at UCLA. We are particularly interested in mentoring and developing young RNA researchers and providing them with a larger network of RNA colleagues.
Riboforum is organized by:
Douglas Black (MIMG) dougb@microbio.ucla.edu
Daniel Arce (MIMG and MBIDP) danielarce@g.ucla.edu
Jesse Zamudio (MCDB) jesse.zamudio@ucla.edu
Cori Dilsavor (MCDB and MBIDP) coridilsavor1@g.ucla.edu
Riboforum participating research groups 2026-2027
| Number | PI name | UCLA Department |
| 1 | Keriann Backus | Chemistry/Biological Chemistry |
| 2 | Melody Li | Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics |
| 3 | Kathrin Plath | Biological Chemistry |
| 4 | Grace Xiao | Integrative Biology and Physiology |
| 5 | Elisa Franco | Bioengineering |
| 6 | Hong Zhou | Chemistry/Biochemistry |
| 7 | David Eisenberg | Chemistry/Biochemistry |
| 8 | Juli Feigon | Chemistry/Biochemistry |
| 9 | Feng Guo | Biological Chemistry |
| 10 | Guillaume Chanfreau | Chemistry/Biochemistry |
| 11 | Jesse Zamudio | Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology |
| 12 | Mireille Kamariza | Bioengineering |
| 13 | Tamer Sallam | Medicine |
| 14 | Doug Black | Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics |
| 15 | Tracy Johnson | Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology |
| 16 | Irene Chen | Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering |
| 17 | Dinesh Rao | Pathology and Laboratory Medicine |
| 18 | Carla Koehler | Chemistry/Biochemistry |
| 19 | Jaimie Stewart | Bioengineering |
| 20 | Hilary Coller | Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology/Biological Chemistry |
| 21 | Michael Lawson | Chemistry/Biochemistry |
| 22 | Thomas Vallim | Biological Chemistry/Medicine-Cardiology |
| 23 | Elizabeth Tarling | Biological Chemistry/Medicine-Cardiology |
| 24 | Zhipeng Lu | University of Southern California |
| 25 | Kalli Kappel | Chemistry/Biochemistry |
| 26 | William Gelbart | Chemistry/Biological Chemistry |
| 27 | Lena Pernas | Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics |
| 28 | Claudio Villanueva | Integrative Biology & Physiology |
| 29 | Chao Peng | Neurology |
| 30 | Harley Kornblum | Psychiatry, Pharmacology and Pediatrics |


