“The RNA Center has been growing rapidly since its inception, putting Brown on the map as a place pushing the boundaries of our understanding of RNA science,” said Dr. Mukesh K. Jain, senior vice president for health affairs and dean of medicine and biological sciences. “That is due in no small part to the way Brown facilitates collaboration — across labs, centers, institutes, departments and schools. With the Giuliani family’s generous support, we’ll be able to take another great leap forward in establishing a powerhouse of RNA research.”

Brown researchers across multiple disciplines are studying the potential applications of RNA.

“It's rare to find one scientific field that touches so many aspects of human well-being,” Giuliani said. “That is why Sabrina and I felt this is the right moment to step in and support this work.”

Unlocking RNA’s potential

Ribonucleic acid, or RNA, is found in the cells of all living organisms and is essential to biological function. While DNA stores genetic information, RNA brings that information to life. Chemical modifications to RNA that take place in the human body are critical for RNA to function properly, and their dysregulation has been implicated in a wide range of diseases and disorders. Yet knowledge of RNA modifications remains incomplete — a better understanding could aid in everything from producing better diagnostics to detecting diseases like dementia to contributing to cancer treatments.

Juan Alfonzo, a Brown professor of molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry and the Giuliani RNA Center’s executive director, says the varied and extensive functions of the many types of RNA remain the biggest black box in molecular medicine. One of the many impacts the Giuliani family’s gift will have is ensuring that Brown continues to provide researchers with access to the latest technology to conduct research with maximum efficiency in such a fast-moving field, Alfonzo said.

“The field of RNA research is not new — students are often surprised to hear that some questions we’re looking into were first asked in the 1950s,” Alfonzo said. “But we now have technology that’s advanced enough to answer these research questions. Brown is already home to world-class scientists, and the combination of technologies we have is found at few institutions around the world. That’s a powerful formula that places us at the forefront of RNA science.”

In addition to strengthening infrastructure, the Giulianis’ gift will provide funding for seed awards for early-stage science, discovery research funds and innovation efforts led by RNA Center members: “We want to give scientists the resources to accelerate discoveries, but also the freedom to think big and explore new ideas,” Giuliani said.

Alfonzo noted that such funding allows for the kind of time-intensive exploration that can lead to unexpected yet high-impact findings: “With this type of support, researchers from the Giuliani RNA Center can team up in collaborative projects that involve thinking completely out of the box. We can test our most ambitious ideas and see where they lead. I’m really excited about that.”

The gift will fund an endowed assistant professorship, strengthening the ability of center leaders to recruit and retain outstanding junior faculty. That will not only help to create a pipeline of talented RNA researchers, Alfonzo said, but also to energize a new center that is adding to its ranks of scholars and scientists.

“It’s wonderful for a center to have a balance between more established researchers and early-career researchers who usually see things in a different light,” Alfonzo said. “In a collaborative center such as ours, the energy of a new assistant professor can provide valuable inspiration for others in the group. 

Already, what scientists know about RNA modifications has been leveraged in the development of vaccines that helped save millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alfonzo said. Translating discoveries for patient impact will remain a core focus, yet the applications of RNA technology extend even beyond medicine. 

“People are generally aware that RNA can be used to treat genetic diseases,” Alfonzo said. “Yet RNA technology can also be used in agriculture, to make crops resistant to insects without pesticides, and in biosecurity, to make fish (for example) more resistant to deadly viruses that could also affect humans.

“With the support of the Giuliani family, I’m looking forward to the center expanding the possibilities of RNA.”

Investing in science

The Giulianis’ gift to Brown extends a legacy of supporting innovation in medicine and health care.

“For me, this is about investing in the future,” Giammaria Giuliani said. “I have always believed that science has the power to shape society in profound ways. When I have looked at where innovation is happening today, RNA stood out as one of the most promising frontiers of science. Our gift is about accelerating discovery and helping Brown lead in a field with the power to change lives worldwide.”

Sergio Gonzalez, senior vice president for advancement, said the Giuliani family’s generous commitment underscores the importance of philanthropic support for Brown’s research enterprise.

“This gift will advance Brown’s contributions to the most critical and promising areas of RNA exploration,” Gonzalez said.

Giuliani has been working in the health care sector for more than 25 years, in fields ranging from pharmacy and biotechnology to gene editing and cell therapies. In 2004, he became executive vice president and head of research and development at Giuliani S.p.A., a global pharmaceutical company based in Italy. Since 2014, as a health care investor, he has held various board positions in pharmaceutical and biotech companies, helping to define those companies’ investment strategies and ensuring that they are aligned with their mission and values. Among other leadership positions, Giuliani serves on the supervisory board for Rothschild & Co. financial services firm and on the board of trustees for the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

As part of their philanthropic efforts, Giammaria and Sabrina Giuliani established the Giuliani Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing education, health and economic well-being in developing countries. Under Sabrina Giuliani’s leadership, the foundation’s projects include the development of health clinics in Tanzania and Kenya; research into cancer treatments, neurodegeneration and HIV/AIDS; and a faculty support fund dedicated to advancing transformative research at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT and Harvard. 

The couple’s daughter is a student at Brown University, and Sabrina Giuliani is a member of the Parents Executive Committee, which advises Brown's Parent and Family Giving team on parent engagement initiatives. Giammaria recently became a trustee of the Corporation of Brown University. 

The Giulianis say they see immense potential for RNA technology, including beyond health care. 

“RNA is about unlocking the language of life,” Giammaria Giuliani said. “Its versatility can help us reimagine solutions to global challenges from curing diseases to ensuring food security. Sabrina and I are deeply committed to supporting this transformation at Brown.”