RNA Society

What RNA Society does

The RNA Society is a non-profit international scientific society headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, with more than 1,800 members dedicated to RNA research and education. Its core product portfolio centers on the peer-reviewed monthly journal *RNA*, published in partnership with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, and the annual scientific meeting, with upcoming conferences scheduled in Strasbourg, France (June 2027) and Sydney, Australia (May-June 2028). The society also operates the RNA Salon Program, providing financial support to 65 local/regional salons at academic institutions worldwide and reaching over 6,000 RNA researchers, and runs the RNA Collaborative Seminar Series, a biweekly virtual seminar program partnered with the RNA Collaborative.

The society's revenue model is diversified across individual membership dues (annual subscription), journal subscription and publication revenue (via Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press), conference registration fees, corporate sponsorships (notably the Moderna Award for Biomedical Innovation in RNA and co-branded awards with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press), donations, and salon micro-grants. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging the annual meeting as the primary engagement and membership-renewal lever and the journal as the ongoing member value anchor. Customer segments are persona-driven, principally RNA researchers, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, with academic institutions as a secondary beneficiary. The society's strategic positioning also includes public policy advocacy on U.S. biomedical research funding, evidenced by its formal comments to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget on proposed rule changes.

Name

RNA Society

Legal name

The RNA Society

Website

https://rnasociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The RNA Society is a non-profit international scientific society of 1,800+ members that fosters RNA research and education. It publishes the peer-reviewed journal *RNA*, hosts an annual scientific conference, and runs a global RNA Salon program and virtual seminar series for the RNA research community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Society / Professional Membership Organization

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarly Society & Association Publishing (EDAGAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Scientific society
• RNA research
• Peer-reviewed journal
• Scientific conferences
• Academic community

Headquarters

HQ city

Mclean

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees supporting access to society benefits, resources, and community engagement for RNA researchers worldwide.
2. Journal Publication: The RNA journal provides rapid communication of significant original research in RNA science, serving as a premier publication venue in the field.
3. Conference and Event Registration: Annual scientific conferences and regional salon activities generate revenue through registration fees and sponsorships.
4. Donations and Sponsorships: The society accepts donations and partners with organizations like Moderna for specific award programs, providing additional funding for RNA research community support.
5. Job Postings: Free job posting service for members of the RNA Society, supporting career development within the RNA research community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The RNA Society is a non-profit international scientific society that supports RNA researchers through annual membership, the peer-reviewed monthly journal RNA, an annual scientific conference, the RNA Salon program supporting local academic gatherings, and a virtual RNA Collaborative Seminar Series. It also offers awards, travel grants, job postings, and mentorship programs to foster RNA science research and education worldwide.

Product overview

The RNA Society offers a portfolio of member-focused scientific resources, centered on its peer-reviewed RNA Journal and annual scientific conference. The portfolio includes the RNA Salon Program providing financial support for local academic gatherings worldwide, the RNA Collaborative Seminar Series for virtual cross-institutional knowledge sharing, job postings for members, and an annual awards program recognizing outstanding contributions in RNA research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RNA Journal: Monthly international peer-reviewed publication covering all areas of RNA structure and function in eukaryotic, prokaryotic, and viral systems.
• RNA Collaborative Seminar Series
• RNA Salon Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 65 RNA Salons spanning academic institutions worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• RNA CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RNA Society partners with the RNA Collaborative to promote their online seminar program aimed at fostering cross-institutional interaction and dissemination of emerging breakthroughs in RNA research. Seminars are open to all RNA researchers and held virtually every other Wednesday.
• Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory PresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for several award programs including the Distinguished Research Mentor Award and the Research Excellence by an Underrepresented Scientist Award. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press also partners with RNA journal publication.
• ModernacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerModerna sponsors the RNA Society Moderna Award for Biomedical Innovation in RNA, recognizing outstanding contributions to RNA-based biomedical research.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB): Umbrella organization of multiple life sciences societies; provides shared services, advocacy, and conference support comparable to what the RNA Society does for its RNA-specific community.
• American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB): Larger professional society covering biochemistry and molecular biology broadly; publishes multiple journals including the Journal of Biological Chemistry, hosts an annual meeting, and runs awards and advocacy programs directly analogous to the RNA Society's model.
• Society for Neuroscience (SfN): Largest neuroscience society; publishes The Journal of Neuroscience, hosts the annual Neuroscience meeting, and operates awards and advocacy programs. Comparable structurally to RNA Society at much larger scale within a different scientific specialty.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): Largest general scientific society; publishes Science, hosts the Annual Meeting, runs awards, and conducts policy advocacy. Comparable as a membership organization with journal, conference, and advocacy pillars in life sciences.
• European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO): International life sciences organization funding researchers and publishing journals (The EMBO Journal, EMBO Reports); comparable to RNA Society as a globally oriented scientific society with publications and member programs.
• Genetics Society of America (GSA): Scientific society for geneticists; publishes GENETICS and G3 journals, hosts conferences, and runs member-driven awards and community programs. Comparable as a membership-based life sciences society with journal and conference offerings.
• American Society for Microbiology (ASM): Major life sciences society publishing multiple peer-reviewed journals, running Microbe (annual meeting), and operating an extensive awards, fellowships, and advocacy program for microbiologists. Analogous scale and structure to RNA Society.

Direct peers

• RNA Collaborative: Partner organization running the virtual RNA Collaborative Seminar Series with the RNA Society; closely comparable mission and audience in fostering RNA research community interaction.
• American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT): Society focused on gene and cell therapy, an RNA-adjacent therapeutic field; runs an annual meeting, peer-reviewed journal (Molecular Therapy), awards, and member-driven scientific community, mirroring the RNA Society's structure for an overlapping research community.
• International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR): Scientific society for stem cell researchers; runs annual meetings, publishes STEM CELL REPORTS, and operates member-driven awards and training programs in an adjacent biomedical specialty, mirroring RNA Society's operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/rna_journal
• Xx.com/rnajournal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-rna-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RNA Society