Avellino, Ulster University collaborate on CRISPR gene therapy

Avellino Labs and Ulster University have entered a multiyear collaboration to develop new therapies for inherited corneal dystrophies using the gene editing technique known as CRISPR/Cas9.

Avellino Labs intends to leverage its work in DNA testing for corneal health to accelerate the transition of CRISPR gene editing from the lab to human clinical use to correct multiple genetic corneal dystrophies, including Granular types 1 and 2, Lattice Corneal type 1, Reis-Bucklers and Thiel Behnke.

Professor Tara Moore, who led the university’s groundbreaking research applying CRISPR technology to treat inherited corneal disorders, was recently appointed as Avellino’s director of R&D.

"My laboratory team and I are committed to developing groundbreaking methods in the cell and gene therapy field,” said Moore. “Advances in gene editing technologies with an ever growing list of Cas9 variants and rapid advances in delivery techniques are enabling us to translate our research into a viable gene therapy platform."