GFF is excited to announce a new Request for Proposal (RFP) for high-impact research on gene therapy strategies for NF1! Applications are currently in review and awards will be announced in summer of 2021.
NF1 results from mutations or deletion of the neurofibromin 1 (NF1) gene, which encodes a negative regulator of the Ras signal transduction pathway called neurofibromin. To date, drug development has primarily focused on addressing the molecular abnormalities that arise downstream of the NF1 gene mutation/deletion. There are no therapies that address the underlying issue of this genetic disease; present therapies do not cure the disease. Thus the mission of the Gilbert Family Foundation's Gene Therapy Initiative (GTI) is to develop curative therapies that address the underlying genetic abnormalities in NF1 patients. In its first phase, the Gene Therapy Initiative will explore the feasibility of various gene-targeting therapeutic strategies for NF1 as well as novel or enhanced in vivo gene delivery systems. Areas of interest thus include:
- Gene replacement
- Gene editing
- RNA editing
- Exon skipping
- Mutation suppression
- Gene delivery systems
Exploring Nonsense Suppression as a Treatment for NF1
This project aims to find compounds that suppress the effects of nonsense mutations in the NF1 gene, thus restoring neurofibromin protein expression and function in NF1 patients.
David Bedwell, PhD
University of Alabama, Birmingham
Bruce Korf, MD, PhD
University of Alabama, Birmingham
Mark Suto, PhD
Southern Research
Genome Editing with Engineered Vectors to Correct Neurofibromatosis Type I
This project will resolve two primary challenges applying gene therapy approaches to NF1 by using an innovative strategy to engineer new viruses that targets tumor initiating cells and CRISPR-based genome editing to restore the mutated NF1 gene. Using a unique team with complimentary expertise, this venture applies some of the most exciting modern biotechnologies to NF1.
Charles Gersbach, PhD
Duke University
David V. Schaffer, PhD
University of California, Berkeley
David G. Kirsch, MD, PhD
Duke University
Ataluren-promoted Therapeutic Nonsense Suppression for Neurofibromatosis
Ataluren is a drug that can suppress protein synthesis termination at premature nonsense codons to produce essential proteins in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This project aims to evaluate its effect on mouse cells with an NF1 gene that harbors nonsense mutations.
Allan Jacobson, PhD
University of Massachusetts
NF1 Gene Rescue in Translational Animal Models
This project proposes using nanoparticles to deliver 1) key coding regions of NF1 gene (cDNA) that will make neurofibromin protein, and 2) gene-editing regents to directly correct the mutation that causes NF1 in a patient derived NF1 rat model. If successful, the new system will provide essential pre-clinical data and lay the foundation for clinical trials using nanomedicine to treat NF1 disease.
Robert Kesterson, PhD
University of Alabama, Birmingham
Jiangbing Zhou, PhD
Yale University
NF1 RNA Repair Based on Therapeutic Ribozymes
This project will bioengineer trans-acting ribozymes, RNA molecules with catalytic properties similar to protein enzymes, to target faulty transcripts of the NF1 gene that fail to translate functional neurofibromin. NF1 mouse models with patient specific mutations that are amenable to ribozyme-mediated correction will be developed for subsequent animal studies.
André Leier, PhD
University of Alabama, Birmingham
Ulrich Muller, PhD
University of California, San Diego
Investigating Synthetic Lethality Associated with NF1 Loss
The mutation of one gene, e.g. NF1, often makes other genes that are not normally required for cell survival vulnerable to inactivation. This project aims to kill cells that have inactivated both copies of the NF1 gene. Using CRISPR/CAS9 technology, genes that become essential for the survival of cells that have two inactivated copies of the NF1 gene will be identified, particularly those for which an FDA-approved drug is already available.
Eric Pasmant, PharmD, PhD
University Paris Descartes
Raphaël Margueron, PhD
Institut Curie
AAV, Zinc Finger Protein and Antisense Oligonucleotide Strategies for Restoration of Neurofibromin Expression
This project seeks to develop two new NF1 drug candidates by developing and characterizing multiple potential therapeutics in parallel within fourteen research laboratories. AAV vectors for delivery and zinc finger protein and antisense oligonucleotides to upregulate NF1 expression will also be used when evaluating the efficacy of different therapeutic modalities.
Miguel Sena-Esteves, PhD
University of Massachusetts
Scot Wolfe, PhD
University of Massachusetts
Matthew Gounis, PhD
University of Massachusetts
Jonathan Watts, PhD
University of Massachusetts
Xandra Breakefield, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Casey Maguire, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Exon Skipping to Treat Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) Mutations
Antisense directed gene therapy, or more specifically exon skipping, causes cells to “skip” over faulty pieces of the genetic code, leading to a truncated, but still functional, protein. This project aims to identify exons within the NF1 gene that may be skipped while still maintaining gene function and then develop antisense oligonucleotides to enable modulation of expression.
Deeann Wallis, PhD
University of Alabama, Birmingham
Linda Popplewell, PhD
Royal Holloway University of London
Development of Mutation Suppression Therapy in a Swine Model of NF1
This project aims to investigate the potential of nonsense mutation suppression therapies for NF1 patients using a newly developed swine model. The NF1 pig model can be used to establish the ability of these novel therapies to both eradicate the underlying genetic abnormality and cure existing manifestations of the condition.
Adrienne Watson, PhD
Recombinetics, Inc
David Largaespada, PhD
University of Minnesota
GTI Advisory Board
Barry Byrne, MD, PhD
University of Florida
Leah Byrne, PhD
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Jeffrey Chamberlain, PhD
University of Washington
Manuela Corti, PhD
University of Florida
Kleopas Kleopa, MD
Cyrus Institute of Neurology and Genetics
Verena Staedtke, MD, PhD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine