PROVIDENCE – Brown University will name its research center focused on RNA science the Giuliani RNA Center in recognition of a financial gift from Giammaria and Sabrina Giuliani, the school announced.
A spokesperson for Brown declined to share the gift amount, citing the university’s gift announcement policy, which allows donors to make decisions on what details they wish to share publicly about their gifts.
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The center, which launched in 2024, is focused on making RNA discoveries and using them in health and medicine along with other fields such as agriculture and biosecurity. Researchers at the center have joined other scientists in an international effort to identify and sequence all human RNA as part of the Human RNome Project, according to a news release from Brown.
“An investment in RNA science at Brown is an investment in the potential for innovative, targeted applications that could treat infectious diseases, genetic disorders, dementia, cancer and more,” said Brown University President Christina H. Paxson. “We’re deeply grateful for this generous gift from the Giuliani family, which will help us to grow our RNA center, expand our pipeline of talented researchers and fund future breakthroughs.”
The center is located in new labs at 225 Dyer St. in Providence’s Jewelry District and near Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School. The center will bring together faculty, students and researchers from several scientific disciplines.
“It’s rare to find one scientific field that touches so many aspects of human well-being,” Giammaria Giuliani said. “That is why Sabrina and I felt this is the right moment to step in and support this work.”
Ribonucleic acid, or RNA, is in the cells of all living organisms and plays an important role in biological functions. Dysfunctions in RNA have played a part in a wide range of diseases and disorders. But knowledge of RNA changes is not complete and could help in better detection of diseases like dementia and improve cancer treatments. Existing RNA knowledge has been used to develop vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Juan Alfonzo, professor of molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry at Brown and the Giuliani RNA Center’s executive director.
“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 … more resistant to deadly viruses that could also affect humans.”
The Giulianis’ donation will provide funding for seed awards for early-stage science, discovery research funds and innovation efforts led by RNA Center members, according to the university’s announcement. The donation will also fund an endowed assistant professorship.
The Giulianis have established the Giuliani Foundation, which is focused on boosting education, health and economic well-being in developing countries. Led by Sabrina Giuliani, the foundation has developed clinics in Tanzania and Kenya; researched cancer treatments, neurodegeneration and HIV/AIDS; and established a faculty support fund dedicated to advancing transformative research at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.
Giammaria Giuliani has been working in health care for more than 25 years in several fields like pharmacy, biotechnology and gene editing. He has held several board positions for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies since 2014.
The Giulianis’ daughter is a student at Brown University. Sabrina Giuliani is a member of the Parents Executive Committee and Giammaria Giuliani recently became a trustee of the Corporation of Brown University.
Katie Castellani is a PBN staff writer. You may contact her at Castellani@PBN.com.
