Therapeutic/Technology: Gene Therapy (All)
Engineering Lifelong Cellular Immunity to HIV
Research Objective We aim to uncover a therapeutic approach to attempt to treat and potentially cure HIV infection using gene modified blood forming stem cells to enhance the immune response against HIV. Impact The study will allow a potentially curative treatment for HIV infection, which currently doesn’t exist. This will eliminate the need to administer […]
Preclinical development of an immune evasive islet cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes
Research Objective We will produce a universal donor cell (UDC) line by gene editing an embryonic stem cell line. Cell therapies produced from the UDC line will not be rejected by a patient’s immune system. Impact The UDC line will address the bottleneck of patient immunity that is currently slowing development of many potential cell […]
Development of immune invisible beta cells as a cell therapy for type 1 diabetes through genetic modification of hESCs
Research Objective Development of hESC-derived pancreatic beta cells that are protected from allogeneic and autoimmune attack into a cell therapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) Impact Cell therapy of T1D is challenged by immune rejection. Therefore, we will develop pancreatic progenitors derived from genetically modified hESCs that can evade allogeneic and autoimmune responses. Major Proposed […]
Genome Editing of Sinusoidal Endothelial Stem Cells for Permanent Correction of Hemophilia A
Research Objective Therapeutic candidate to cure hemophilia A is AAV-based genome editing vector that corrects the disease-causing mutation in the factor VIII gene in patient stem cells to develop a permanent cure. Impact Permanent correction of hemophilia A by editing mutations in the FVIII gene in stem cells. Develop a precise and efficient non-nuclease genome […]
Targeted Gene Editing in the Treatment of X-Linked Hyper-IgM Syndrome
Research Objective We are seeking to develop site-specific hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy with autologous transplant as a definitive treatment option for X-linked Hyper-IgM Syndrome. Impact These studies would bring stem cell gene therapy for X-HIGM closer to the clinic, as there are currently no options for those without an HLA match or with infections […]
Preclinical development of AAV vector-mediated in vivo hepatic reprogramming of myofibroblasts as a therapy for liver fibrosis
Research Objective An intravenously injectable virus that converts the scar cells responsible for liver cirrhosis into the cells that provide most of the liver’s function, thereby preventing or reversing liver failure. Impact The proposed research will develop a new therapy for liver cirrhosis, which can be cured by liver transplantation, but there are not enough […]
Genome Editing to Correct Cystic Fibrosis Mutations in Airway Stem Cells
Research Objective Gene corrected autologous airway epithelial stem cells from patients with cystic fibrosis to be used as cell and gene based therapy for chronic sinus disease Impact The proposed studies would provide an innovative, readily applied primary stem cell based approach with gene correction to treat chronic sinusitis in CF, a debilitating airway disease. […]
Direct Cardiac Reprogramming for Regenerative Medicine
Research Objective To develop a gene therapy product to deliver cardiac reprogramming factors into the heart for regeneration of new heart muscle. Impact The proposed candidate would regenerate heart muscle for the 23 million adult and pediatric patients with heart failure, for whom there are currently no disease-modifying therapeutic approaches. Major Proposed Activities Successful conversion […]
CRISPR/dCas9 mutant targeting SNCA promoter for downregulation of alpha-synuclein expression as a novel therapeutic approach for Parkinson’s disease
Research Objective Discovery of a novel therapeutic candidate for Parkinson’s disease which modifies gene expression using human stem cell-derived neurons to halt the neurodegenerative disease process. Impact Stopping the neurodegenerative process of Parkinson’s disease is a critical unmet medical need. Our approach is based on novel gene engineering technology that modifies expression of key target […]
hNSC-mediated delivery of ApiCCT1 as a candidate therapeutic for Huntington’s disease
Research Objective The therapeutic candidate is a human Neural Stem Cell that secretes a protein, ApiCCT1, that aids in the prevention of disease phenotypes, for application in treatment of Huntington's disease (HD). Impact No treatment currently exists that can slow or prevent the unrelenting progression of Huntington’s disease, a devastating brain disease, therefore a completely […]