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Bi 23 Current Advances in Gene Therapies (Caltech, Winter quarter 2019)

Gene therapy holds the promise of finding cures to some of the most problematic diseases. Unlike commonly used small molecule drugs, genes expressed in the body can perform more complex tasks and be better targeted to disease sites. In this course we will cover topics ranging from the need for gene therapy, through biochemical and device-based methods of gene delivery, to challenges facing current therapies. We will finish the course with case studies of successful gene therapies that are already on the market, and examine why gene therapies of the previous decades had limited success.

BioE 422/522 Gene Therapy

This course will examine the gene therapy field, with topics ranging from gene delivery to vectors to ethics of gene therapy. The design principles for engineering improved gene delivery vectors, both viral and nonviral, will be discussed. The course will culminate in a design project focused on engineering a gene delivery device for a specific therapeutic application. The syllabus is available on canvas.rice.edu.

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