A researcher at UMass Chan Medical School has received a $1.6-million federal grant to study ways to make gene therapy treatments safer.
The funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences was awarded to Phillip Tai, an assistant professor of genetic and cellular medicine, the school announced Thursday.
Gene therapy works by delivering genetic material into a patient’s cells to treat or prevent disease. Those treatments rely on vectors, often modified viruses, to carry the genetic material into the body.
While gene therapy is generally considered safe, researchers are continuing to study whether the delivery process can be improved. One concern is, in rare cases, the delivery vehicles may insert genetic material into a patient’s DNA in ways to potentially contribute to cancer.
Tai’s research will focus on adeno-associated viral vectors, one of the most common delivery tools used in gene therapy. Using advanced DNA sequencing technology, his team will study how these vectors interact with cells and whether they can be redesigned to reduce potential risks.
“If we can improve gene therapy vectors, even in a slight way, it’s going to have a tremendous benefit,” Tai said in a press release. “We can tell patients and pharmaceutical companies that we have a better understanding of how these vectors work and that will open the doors for further research.”
Tai has been on the faculty at UMass Chan since 2017.
Monica Benevides is a correspondent for Worcester Business Journal.
