Deep in the heart of Ohio, scientists from across the Midwest gathered in October to share their latest findings and highlight the strength of RNA research in the heartland. Represented were researchers from Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. With over 220 participants, the 2008 annual Rustbelt RNA Meeting (RRM) was the largest gathering of this group in its 10-year history. The success of this year's RRM lies on the extraordinary efforts of organizers Dawn Chandler (Ohio State University) and Girish Shukla (Cleveland State University).