Human Stem Cell Use: Somatic Cell
In Utero Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with Non-viral Gene Editing
Research Objective To develop a lipid nanoparticle/mRNA complex that can safely and efficiently edit muscle stem cells in utero, correct the dystrophin mutation, and develop a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy Impact If successful, we will have developed an effective and low-cost treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and a robust method to safely and efficiently […]
CAR T cells targeting abnormal N-glycans for the treatment of refractory/metastatic solid cancers
Research Objective Develop genetically modified chimeric antigen receptor T cells to kill incurable solid cancers by targeting a previously un-targetable tumor associated carbohydrate antigen. Impact Refractory/metastatic solid cancers are almost always incurable and have limited therapeutic options. Directing the immune system to kill cancer cells provides an unprecedented new approach. Major Proposed Activities Engineer and […]
Providing a cure for sphingosine phosphate lyase insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS) through adeno-associated viral mediated SGPL1 gene therapy
Research Objective AAV-SPL 2.0 is a gene therapy cure for SPLIS, a lethal childhood disorder of metabolism that causes kidney failure. Our gene therapy may also work in more common fibrotic (scarring) kidney diseases. Impact Our treatment may cure a rare but often fatal genetic disease (SPLIS) for which no specific treatment is available. It […]
Generating deeper and more durable BCMA CAR T cell responses in Multiple Myeloma through non-viral knockin/knockout multiplexed genome engineering
Research Objective We will use integrated gene editing techniques to develop a new CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma treatment Impact Develop an improved CAR-T cell therapy for patients with refractory multiple myeloma and a new manufacturing strategy that circumvents the costs and inefficiencies of viral production. Major Proposed Activities Establish and optimize a CRISPR […]
Optogenetic therapy for treating retinitis pigmentosa and other inherited retinal diseases
Translational Candidate Ray-001 is an AAV gene therapy delivering a light sensitive gene to treat patients with advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa. Area of Impact Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic disease that causes retinal degeneration leading to near or complete blindness for most patients. Mechanism of Action Ray Therapeutics' therapy (Ray-001) delivers a potent transgene with […]
CD72 nanoCARs for the treatment of refractory pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Translational Candidate CD72-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells incorporating fully synthetic nanobodies Area of Impact Pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia refractory to currently available treatments without other potentially curative options Mechanism of Action The proposed candidate functions as Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell. When the CAR-T cell recognizes tumor cell expressing the designed […]
Development of MyoDys45-55, a gene editing therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Translational Candidate A gene editing therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy that permanently removes a hotspot region of patient mutations to restore dystrophin. Area of Impact Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a fatal muscle wasting disease with no cure. Mechanism of Action Our therapy uses CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to permanently remove a hotspot region of DMD patient […]
MPS II: Plasma cell delivery of iduronate sulfatase
Translational Candidate The patient’s own B cells will be engineered to express the therapeutic enzyme needed for care in Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) patients Area of Impact MPS II, a rare genetic disease causing multi-organ symptoms and death by age 15, if not treated. Current treatment does not address major symptoms. Mechanism of Action […]
Development of novel synNotch CART cell therapy in patients with recurrent EGFRvIII+ glioblastoma
Translational Candidate Human T cells transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding anti-EGFRvIII synNotch-primed anti-EphA2/IL-13Rα2 chimeric antigen receptor. Area of Impact Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor, affecting approximately 3 out of 100,000 people/year in the USA with extremely poor prognosis. Mechanism of Action In our proposed system, the first antigen EGFRvIII, which is […]
Development of novel synNotch CART cell therapy in patients with recurrent EGFRvIII+ glioblastoma
Translational Candidate Human T cells transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding anti-EGFRvIII synNotch-primed anti-EphA2/IL-13Rα2 chimeric antigen receptor. Area of Impact Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor, affecting approximately 3 out of 100,000 people/year in the USA with extremely poor prognosis. Mechanism of Action In our proposed system, the first antigen EGFRvIII, which is […]