Home Department: Undeclared
Mentor: Euan Ashley (Genetics and Biomedical Data Science)

"AAV-mediated Genetic Therapies for the Heart"

Cardiomyopathy causes heart failure and significant long-term disability worldwide, yet gene therapies remain limited by the inability to deliver therapeutic genes directly to the human heart. Using a library of 1 million adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) variants applied on human cardiac and liver tissues, Alan's project aims to achieve greater heart specificity while limiting transduction of off-target organs. Specifically, Alan will be amplifying and molecular barcoding extracted DNA and RNA, followed by separation and purification using gel electrophoresis. By enabling gene delivery to the heart, this work aims to support the development of effective genetic therapies for cardiomyopathy.