Viviana Gradinaru

Capsida Biotherapeutics Announces Publication in Nature Neuroscience From Caltech Demonstrating Robust, Non-invasive IV Gene Delivery Targeted to the Brain While Avoiding Liver

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 9, 2021

For a genetic intervention to be safe and effective, a gene therapy should express a transgene in the affected brain cells while minimizing off-target expression.

Key Points: 
  • For a genetic intervention to be safe and effective, a gene therapy should express a transgene in the affected brain cells while minimizing off-target expression.
  • The research published in Nature Neuroscience describes how combinatorial AAV engineering of multiple loops was utilized to select capsids with brain-wide gene expression and liver detargeting after IV delivery in mouse and marmoset models.
  • These findings extended to non-human primates following IV administration, allowing for robust, non-invasive gene delivery to the central nervous system (CNS).
  • Capsida Biotherapeutics Inc. is an industry-leading gene therapy platform company creating a new class of targeted, non-invasive gene therapies for patients with debilitating and life-threatening genetic disorders.

Pew Funds Six Teams to Pursue Cutting-Edge Biomedical Research

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 15, 2020

The fund's award criteria were developed to promote working relationships among Pew biomedical program alumni and to motivate researchers to focus on proposals that combine their areas of expertise.

Key Points: 
  • The fund's award criteria were developed to promote working relationships among Pew biomedical program alumni and to motivate researchers to focus on proposals that combine their areas of expertise.
  • Polina V. Lishko, Ph.D. , 2015 Pew biomedical scholar; University of California, Berkeley, and Buck Institute for Research on Aging
    Ke Xu, Ph.D. , 2015 Pew biomedical scholar; University of California, Berkeley
    Lishko and Xu will investigate steroid hormones' role in uncovering the underlying gender differences in Alzheimer's disease.
  • Ekaterina Heldwein, Ph.D. , 2007 Pew biomedical scholar; Tufts University School of Medicine
    Daniela Nicastro, Ph.D. , 2007 Pew biomedical scholar; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    Heldwein and Nicastro will investigate the assembly and trafficking of herpesviruses in host cells.
  • Mark Andermann, Ph.D. , 2013 Pew biomedical scholar; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
    Viviana Gradinaru, Ph.D. , 2013 Pew biomedical scholar; California Institute of Technology
    Andermann and Gradinaru will investigate how the brain's insular cortex perceives bodily signals from internal organs.

2021 Vilcek Foundation Prizes in Biomedical Science Recognize Immigrant Leaders in STEM

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 8, 2020

NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The Vilcek Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Vilcek Foundation Prizes in Biomedical Science.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The Vilcek Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Vilcek Foundation Prizes in Biomedical Science.
  • Awarded annually, these awards comprising the Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science and three Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science honor the contributions of immigrants to scientific research, discovery, and innovation in the United States.
  • The Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science recognizes an immigrant scientist for outstanding career contributions to biomedical science and global scientific research.
  • The Vilcek Foundation has also announced the recipients of the 2021 Vilcek Prize and Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Filmmaking, and the 2021 Vilcek Prize for Excellence in Public Service.