Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 5R01AI158728-05
Targeted genetic engineering of B cells to induce protective antibody responses to pathogens
Recipient
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, MA
Award Amount
$592,450.00
Ceiling
$592,450.00
Awarded
July 17, 2026
Identifier
5R01AI158728-05
Development of a gene therapy using gold nanoparticles and CRISPR technology to enable in vivo gene editing of B cells for protection against respiratory viruses such as RSV and influenza.
Description
This project leverages a novel approach to genetically engineer B cells to express protective antibodies against respiratory viruses, including RSV and influenza, using a scalable nanoparticle delivery system. The goal is to develop an in vivo gene editing tool that can provide lifelong protection and improve equitable access to gene therapies.