During her State of the University address on Thursday, Ohio State President Kristina Johnson announced the launch of a new gene therapy institute. The institute's goal is to accelerate the expansion and utilization of gene therapies globally.
Gene therapy techniques are the result of decades of cross-disciplinary research that treats or prevents disease by replacing or correcting genetic alterations. Researchers aim to use gene therapy to address what were previously untreatable, or incompletely treated, life-threatening diseases.
The university said related research is being conducted by over 50 faculty across the colleges of Medicine, Arts and Science, Law, Business, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering and Pharmacy.
The launch of the Gene Therapy Institute is part of the university’s strategic plan to increase convergent research opportunities and accelerate societal impact. The institute will report to the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge
"I am so pleased to announce that we are launching a new Gene Therapy Institute to benefit so many people around the globe suffering from diseases caused by missing or mutated genes," said Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson during her State of the University address on April 21. "Our new institute offers Ohio State the opportunity to be the world leader in gene therapy."
The institute will be led by Dr. Russell Lonser, professor and chair of neurological surgery, and Dr. Krystof Bankiewicz, professor of neurological surgery, at the Ohio State College of Medicine, and will directly involve leaders, faculty, staff and trainees from across the university.
"The creation of this collaborative university institute will most effectively and swiftly advance gene therapy science – ultimately leading to advanced treatments for patients," Lonser said.
