A method for identifying a bioactive small molecule that binds to a cellular target RNA and modulates the function or activity thereof, said method comprising: (a) inputting into a computer system a structured dataset of identified bound RNA-motif secondary structure-small molecule pairs, said dataset also comprising a unique identifier for each RNA secondary structure, a structural description of each RNA secondary structure, a unique identifier for each small molecule, a structural description of each small molecule, a listing of which RNA secondary structure binds to each small molecule and a fitness score for each RNA-motif small molecule pair; (b) inputting into the computer system one or more RNA secondary structures of RNA sequences to be evaluated, the sequences being from an RNA of particular interest, from a family of RNA species having related functions or from a series of RNA species thought to be involved in the onset, maintenance or progression of disease or having an essential biological function, the secondary structures being in a Drosha or Dicer processing site, which may be cleaved to produce pre-miRNAs and mature miRNAs, respectively; (c) generating from each sequence or sequences a structured query dataset of secondary structures; (d) comparing the query dataset of RNA secondary structures from the RNA, with the dataset of identified bound RNA-motif small-molecule pairs, to generate an output listing of pairs of identified RNA structures and the identified small molecules that bind thereto; (e) obtaining an identified cellular RNA with an RNA secondary structure from the listing and the identified small molecule that binds to that secondary structure; and (f) determining a binding affinity of the identified and obtained RNA with the identified small molecule by mixing the RNA having the RNA secondary structure with the identified small molecule and measuring the binding affinity, and/or determining whether the identified small molecule reduces or increases amounts of an RNA having the RNA secondary structure in a mammalian cell; to thereby identify a small molecule that binds to and modulates the RNA. (a) inputting into a computer system a structured dataset of identified bound RNA-motif secondary structure-small molecule pairs, said dataset also comprising a unique identifier for each RNA secondary structure, a structural description of each RNA secondary structure, a unique identifier for each small molecule, a structural description of each small molecule, a listing of which RNA secondary structure binds to each small molecule and a fitness score for each RNA-motif small molecule pair; (b) inputting into the computer system one or more RNA secondary structures of RNA sequences to be evaluated, the sequences being from an RNA of particular interest, from a family of RNA species having related functions or from a series of RNA species thought to be involved in the onset, maintenance or progression of disease or having an essential biological function, the secondary structures being in a Drosha or Dicer processing site, which may be cleaved to produce pre-miRNAs and mature miRNAs, respectively; (c) generating from each sequence or sequences a structured query dataset of secondary structures; (d) comparing the query dataset of RNA secondary structures from the RNA, with the dataset of identified bound RNA-motif small-molecule pairs, to generate an output listing of pairs of identified RNA structures and the identified small molecules that bind thereto; (e) obtaining an identified cellular RNA with an RNA secondary structure from the listing and the identified small molecule that binds to that secondary structure; and (f) determining a binding affinity of the identified and obtained RNA with the identified small molecule by mixing the RNA having the RNA secondary structure with the identified small molecule and measuring the binding affinity, and/or determining whether the identified small molecule reduces or increases amounts of an RNA having the RNA secondary structure in a mammalian cell;