The Global RNAi Carrier Initiative Symposium, sponsored by the Biomedical Research Institute of the Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), opened today with keynote lectures by Dr. Muthiah Manoharan, of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, and Dr. Paul Burke, Principal of Burke Bioventures. Dr. Burke’s lecture, entitled “RNA therapeutics—ready for prime time?”, addressed some of the unique development challenges facing oligonucleotide therapeutics. KIST was founded in 1966 as the first multi-disciplinary scientific research institute in Korea. KIST has a research staff of over 1,800 scientists, fellows, and trainees, involved in basic research in various fields of science and technology.