RNAi: for functional analysis and target validation.

The third annual conference on discovery on target, organised by the Cambridge Healthtech Institute was held on 19 - 20 October 2005, in Boston. More than 300 delegates from both academic and industrial institutes attended the meeting. The presentations provided insights into understanding the RNA interference technology as a useful tool to identify and validate new targets for therapeutic intervention. Discussions focused in the design of siRNA for effective gene silencing, RNAi screens to identify new targets, RNAi delivery and the in vivo validation of targets using this technology.