Molecular medicine driven by nucleic acid modifications: state of the field, challenges, and opportunities

Aberrant nucleic acid epigenetic modifications are closely linked to the initiation and progression of human diseases, positioning this field as a key strategic entry point for advances in molecular medicine. In recent years, under the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Major Research Plan “Dynamic Modifications of Biological Macromolecules and Chemical Interventions”, research on nucleic acid modifications in China has undergone rapid development and has increasingly contributed to the advancement of molecular medicine. Leveraging the NSFC-Chinese Academy of Sciences Joint Foresight and Interdisciplinary Assessment Project “Molecular medicine strategy research based on nucleic acid modification”, this report systematically assesses the current landscape and developmental trajectories of the field, identifies major international frontier directions and critical scientific challenges requiring prioritized breakthroughs, and puts forward targeted strategic pathways and policy recommendations to support sustained innovation and translational progress.