Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., reports that it will feature a series of “Perspectives” by top pioneers in cell and gene therapy in the 2014 issues of the journal. The series will celebrate Human Gene Therapy’s 25th anniversary next year.
According to Mary Collins, Ph.D., chair of the award selection committee, a blue-ribbon scientific panel was commissioned to identify the pioneers. “Identifying the pioneers who have made current successes in gene therapy possible was a really interesting process. The committee agreed that a mixture of virologists, technologists, and clinicians had made essential contributions,” says Dr. Collins.
The Winners of the 12 Pioneer Series Awards are:
• Robin R. Ali, Ph.D., UCL Institute of Ophthalmology;
Jean Bennett, M.D., Ph.D., Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; and
William W. Hauswirth, Ph.D., University of Florida College of Medicine
Nominated for: Gene therapy for eye disorders
• Malcolm K. Brenner, M.D., Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine
Nominated for: Cancer gene therapy using gene modified T cells
• Frederic D. Bushman, Ph.D., Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; and
Christof von Kalle, M.D., Ph.D., National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg
Nominated for: Vector integration and tumorigenesis
• Marina Cavazzana, M.D., Ph.D., Paris Descartes University; and
Adrian J. Thrasher, M.D., Ph.D., UCL Institute of Child Health
Nominated for: Basic and clinical gene therapy for immunodeficiency disorders
• Ronald G. Crystal, M.D., Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
Nominated for: Adenoviral vectors/role in translation of gene therapy to clinic
• Zelig Eshhar, Ph.D., Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science; and
Carl H. June, M.D., Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Nominated for: CARs for cancer gene therapy/lentiviral gene therapy clinical trials
• Joseph C. Glorioso III, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine
Nominated for: Development of HSV as a vector for gene therapy
• Katherine A. High, M.D., Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia;
Amit C. Nathwani, Ph.D., UCL Cancer Institute;
Andrew M. Davidoff, M.D., St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and
Arthur W. Nienhuis, M.D., St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Nominated for: Basic and clinical gene therapy for hemophilia
• A. Dusty Miller, Ph.D., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington; and
Richard C. Mulligan, Ph.D., Harvard Gene Therapy Initiative, Harvard Institute of Medicine
Nominated for: Retroviral vectors
• Luigi M. Naldini, M.D., Ph.D., San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy
Nominated for: Basic and clinical lentiviral vector development and translational gene therapy
• R. Jude Samulski, Ph.D., Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Nominated for: Basic AAV vector technology
• James M. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., Gene Therapy Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Nominated for: Basic and clinical AAV vector development
