Gene Therapy Institute Announces Funding of Two Research Pilot Awards

The Gene Therapy Institute is proud to announce the funding of two research pilot awards aimed at advancing innovation and collaboration in gene therapy research. These awards reflect the Institute's commitment to fostering cutting-edge research and empowering our investigators to explore transformative ideas. 

2024 Pilot Award Recipients

Non-viral reprogramming-based gene therapy for limb ischemia in a pig model

• Principal Investigators: Daniel Gallego-Perez, PhD (Department of Biomedical Engineering) and Mitchel Stacy, PhD (Department of Surgery)
• Project Description: Here, the team proposes a novel approach to revascularize ischemic limbs in a large animal model via the use of a tissue nano-transfection (TNT)-based strategy. TNT is a readiness-level 4 technology that can deliver genes into solid tissues without the need for viral vectors. 

Harnessing olfactory pathways in Alzheimer's disease using central nervous system trophic factor gene therapy

• Principal Investigators: Lluis Samaranch, PhD (Department of Neurological Surgery) and Ahmad Karkhah Farkhani, PhD (Department of Neurological Surgery)
• Co-Investigators: Vikas Munjal and Paco Herson, PhD (Collaborator)
• Project Description: Here, the team proposes a translational project to develop a novel AAV-based therapeutic platform to treat Alzheimer's Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder marked by memory loss and cognitive decline.

Each award provides $50,000 to support early-stage, innovative projects that foster outstanding basic, clinical, and translational research on gene therapy topics. 

"We are thrilled to support these innovative research initiatives," said GTI Director Russell Lonser, MD. "These projects embody our mission to enable successful translation of basic science discoveries into new therapies."

For more information, please visit: https://gti.osu.edu/funding-and-resources.