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Basic research matters. It not only matters, but becomes pivotal for subsequent findings based on the earliest reports, as we will observe throughout this editorial. Since their first description in the nematode C. elegans more than two decades ago [1], miRNAs have been in a constantly increasing spotlight for many years. These molecules are short, noncoding, single-stranded RNAs that function as a gene silencing mechanism by complementary binding to an incredibly diverse number of mRNA sequences, thereby, suppressing protein expression of their target mRNAs, and depicting a very complex intracellular fine-tuning that, when impaired, may alter profoundly numerous cellular processes involved in several physiological and pathological conditions. In recent times, the interest in miRNA research has only gained momentum as a deeper knowledge into their practical applications has been obtained, especially when uncovering their remarkable stability in several body fluids, establishing a novel and important role as noninvasive specific biomarkers for many pathologies which made them an obvious and highly attractive investigation focus for rapidly advancing research areas that encompass major contributors to total global mortality, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. We will put special attention on the latter. Elevated plasma levels of cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Data on this are derived not only from studies performed in developed nations, but also from large studies involving lowand middle-income countries [2]. Accordingly, interventions to reduce blood lipid levels significantly reduce cardiovascular risk, and by far, the most efficient pharmacological approach to achieve cholesterol reduction has been the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, widely known as statins. For years, clinicians have relied on their efficacy and safety profile not only to reduce lipid levels, but also for primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention, which has been partly associated with their incompletely understood cholesterol-independent pleiotropic effects, mostly through reducing inflammation and improving vascular tone among others [3]. However, one of the main pitfalls of statin therapy corresponds to their well-documented variability in terms of LDL-C reduction, which is mainly seen in patients undergoing low-dose treatments. To date, besides several factors commonly known to affect response variability for example, age, race, gender, drug dose and genetic background among others, the molecular reasons underlying this outcome are still eluding the clear and solid evidence expected from the scientific community, which is the exact niche for a promising approach known as precision medicine, in other words, the right drug for the right person. The potential is vast – to individualize dosing and prevent adverse health outcomes, ultimately benefiting the user and decreasing public healthcare system expenditure by saving a significant amount of resources through the correction of previously failed therapies or the improvement of future treatments.

microRNAs and response to statins in patients with hypercholesterolemia: from basic research to precision medicine