Abstract: The noncoding portion of the human genome has gained increasing attention due to its critical role in the pathogenesis of various genetic disorders, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. This noncoding component includes not only intronic regions but also a diverse array of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and Y RNAs (YRNAs).
In this study, we investigated the roles of different ncRNAs using microarray analysis, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Bioinformatics approaches were also employed to identify the most promising ncRNA structures implicated in human diseases and cancer. We present three illustrative examples: (1) the involvement of miRNAs in cardiovascular diseases, (2) the roles of miRNAs and lncRNAs in cancer, and (3) the participation of miRNAs and circRNAs in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Additionally, we explore interactions along the transcriptional axis involving mRNA, miRNA, ncRNA, and circRNA, and discuss potential therapeutic strategies based on miRNA modulation. Our findings highlight the complexity of ncRNA-mediated regulation and its potential as a target for disease intervention.

Biography: Dr. Damjan Glavač earned his PhD from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he currently serves as Head of the Department of Molecular Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine and Professor of Human Genetics.
His research focuses on the genetic analysis of disease-associated genes involved in hereditary disorders and cancer. Dr. Glavač has authored over 190 peer-reviewed scientific publications, in addition to 15 invited articles, 2 invited editorials, 12 book chapters, more than 50 contributions to international conferences, and over 30 invited lectures.
A key aspect of his work includes the translation of research findings and emerging technologies into clinical practice. This has led to improvements in risk prediction, targeted screening, prevention, and treatment strategies for several hereditary diseases, including multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, Lynch syndrome, and Alport syndrome, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and many others
Dr. Glavač is the founder and president of the Slovenian Society of Human Genetics (since 2005) and a founding member of the Human Genome Variation Society.