Principal investigators
Fernando Azorin (Instituto de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona-CSIC)
Role in the project:
Dr. Azorin's contribution will focus to the determination of the chromatin structure and organization of the episomal vectors (WP3) and the development of vectors showing inducible and tissue specific expression of the reporter gene (WP2&3 .
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See: Fernando Azorin
Juergen Bode (GBF, German Research Center for Biotechnology)
Role in the project:
The GBF is the National Biotechnological institute supported by the German government. The sub-project leader, Dr. J. Bode, is an expert in the systematic genetic manipulation of mammalian cells for basic research and biotechnological purposes. He is active in research on gene expression in mammalian cells and regenerative cell lines and has a long-standing experience in the analysis, design and establishment of genomic elements mediating high and long term stable expression.
- See: Juergen Bode
Anne-Marie Buckle (Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester)
Role in the project:
The laboratory of Dr Anne-Marie Buckle will be involved in WP 4 in the evaluation of episomal vectors as gene delivery system in human stem cells.
- See: Anne-Marie Buckle
Dr Ben Davies (genOway GmbH)
Role in the project:
genOway GmbH will be involved in WP4 and will be responsible for testing the S/MAR episomal gene transfer vectors in vivo using transgenic technology in the mouse.
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See: Ben Davies - genOway
George Dickson (Centre for Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London)
Role in the project:
The laboratory of Professor Dickson will be involved in and co-ordinate activities of WP 5. His involvement will focus on the preclinical evaluation of S/MAR episomal gene transfer vectors for treatment of neuromuscular and cardiovascular diseases.
- See: George Dickson
Roel van Driel (Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam)
Role in the project:
Prof. Dr. Roel van Driel will make a major contribution to WP3. He will lead WP3 and use his extensive knowledge of the epigenetic regulation of chromatin function to define the sequences that target gene expression to defined nuclear domains. Advanced live-cell imaging will be used to define the 4D behaviour of the cell nucleus with emphasis on structure-function relationships.
- See: Roel van Driel
Dean Jackson (Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester)
Role in the project:
Dr Dean Jackson will act as the co-ordinator and manager of the project and will be the co-ordinator of WP1. He will also contribute to WP2 and WP3 by analysing the mechanisms by which epiosmal vectors interact with the active nuclear compartments in human cells.
- See: Dean Jackson
Hans J Lipps (Department of Cell Biology, University of Witten)
Role in the project:
The laboratory of Prof. Hans Lipps will be involved in WP 2 in the development of episomal vectors as gene delivery system in human stem cells.
- See: Hans J Lipps
Ariella Oppenheim (Department of Hematology Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School)
Role in the project:
Prof. Ariella Oppenheim will be responsible for the in vitro construction of SV40 pseudo-virus systems that will be used to deliver the EPI-vector to the target cells and tissues. She will be responsible for directing and co-ordinating WP4 and this programme of gene delivery experiments.
- See: Ariella Oppenheim