The Virus and Stem Cell Biology lab. is an academic-research group embedded in the Department of Molecular Cell Biology at Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. The group performs basic research on viruses in order to develop efficient virus-derived gene-transfer vectors for use in e.g. gene therapy. In their evolution, viruses have become very efficient in transferring genetic information into cells. We study the various mechanisms exploited by viruses to do so. Our current research centers around adenoviruses, lentiviruses, and reoviruses.
Our Ambition:
To become a leading provider of new virus-derived gene-transfer tools for preclinical and clinical use in biomedical research and experimental gene therapy.
The Labs Profile:
The goal of our research is to develop and characterize efficient virus-derived gene-transfer vectors for biomedical research in general and experimental gene therapy in particular. Therefore we study the mechanisms by which viruses transfer their genes into cells and how they evade the immune system. Currently we focus on adenoviruses and lentiviruses as gene-transfer vectors for gene therapy, and adenoviruses and reoviruses for viral oncolysis.
In our multidisciplinary research we collaborate with scientists in the Netherlands and abroad. We team up with researchers from universities, private research institutes, and from biotech and biopharmaceutical industry. We are always keeping an open eye for new collaborations that may allow us to further develop or characterize our gene-transfer technology. Please do not hesitate to contact us, should you be interested!
