Angie Pannier, Swarts Family Chair in biological systems engineering
Nov. 17, 2022, 3:30-5 p.m.
DNA and RNA are the genetic warehouses of our cells, responsible for storing our genome (DNA) and then transcribing that genome (RNA) into the molecules that control our life. Given that we know the genomic sequence of humans and many pathogens, scientists long have sought to use that information as medicines and vaccines, that is, to realize the idea of gene therapy. However, the field had a slow start and after 30 years, only a few gene therapy products were on the market. Then in 2020 everything changed with many of the approved vaccines for Sars-Cov2 using RNA or DNA delivery.
Pannier’s laboratory has worked to understand and innovate DNA and RNA delivery and to develop methods to transfer those molecules more efficiently into human cells. Her talk will describe the history of gene therapy, the events in 2020 that changed the field and the future technologies that will revolutionize medical therapies.
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