Gene therapy. Molecular medicine of the 1990s

BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION NETWORKS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES

This paper analyses a number of factors which are implicated in the success of biomedical innovation processes in the United Kingdom (UK): the observability of the innovation process to the participants; the role and interests of UK public and private sector networks; and the ability of the wider constituency to push or drive the innovation process. This study addresses four ongoing developments (familial breast cancer diagnosis, cystic fibrosis gene therapy, inherited eye disease gene therapy and breast cancer screening). The paper draws directly on research funded by the ESRC. Documentary evidence has been analysed for relevant information together with information derived from semi-structured interviews. This has taken account of the key contributions over time from differing professional groups, public and commercial organisations (including user groups) and sectors.

Gene therapy for neurologic disease: benchtop discoveries to bedside applications. 1. The bench

The overall goal of this review is to provide the pediatric neurologist with a theoretical foundation in gene therapy. Gene therapy became feasible in the early 1970s and the first transfer of a foreign gene into humans was approved by the NIH in 1989. Adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, herpes-simplex virus, retroviruses, and other vectors have been used to efficiently transduce genes into cells in vitro and in vivo. We discuss laboratory experiments that have provided a strong scientific rationale for implementing human clinical trials of gene therapy for neurologic malignancy. The development of viral and nonviral vectors that mediate efficient gene insertion into human cells has created the prospect of using gene therapy for cancer or brain disease. The NIH has approved more than 100 gene therapy protocols since 1989. However, the field will require more research on gene delivery systems before gene therapy becomes an established therapeutic strategy for an array of central nervous system diseases.