Promise and Perils of MicroRNA Discovery Research: Working Toward Quality Over Quantity

Since the first microRNA (miRNA) was described in 1993 in the humble worm Caenorhabditis elegans, the miRNA field has boomed, with more than 100 000 related patents filed and miRNAs now in ongoing clinical trials. Despite an advanced understanding of the biogenesis and action of miRNAs, applied miRNA research faces challenges and irreproducibility due to a lack of standardization. This review provides guidelines regarding miRNA investigation, while focusing on the pitfalls and considerations that are often overlooked in prevailing applied miRNA research. These include miRNA annotation and quantification, to modulation, target prediction, validation, and the study of circulating miRNAs.