Leonardo M. R. Ferreira Discusses Designer Cell Therapies for Complex Diseases at Future of DNA Synthetic Biology Symposium

Molecular immunologist and human genome engineer Leonardo M.R. Ferreira, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scholar in the laboratories of Dr. Qizhi Tang (Department of Surgery) and Dr. Jeffrey Bluestone (Diabetes Center) at UCSF, recently gave a captivating talk about his research at the Future of DNA, Blockchain, and Synthetic Biology Symposium on March 7th at Galvanize SF.  The symposium brought together scientists, entrepreneurs, and angel investors to discuss the latest advances in research and opportunities for founders.

Dr. Ferreira discussed using genome editing to control the immune response in transplantation and immune disorders. His talk, “Designer Cell Therapies for Complex Diseases”, focused on two cell and gene therapy strategies under development. The first consisted of genetically deleting a receptor required for HIV infection in blood stem cells and infusing the modified cells back into the patient as a lasting treatment for AIDS; clinical trials are ongoing in China. The second consisted of immune gene engineering in stem cells to create inexhaustible sources of universally compatible tissues and organs for transplantation.