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| William Renthal, MD, PhD | Nicholas Todd, PhD |
William Renthal, MD, PhD, of the Department of Neurology, and Nicholas Todd, PhD, of the Department of Radiology, were awarded Spark Grants from Mass General Brigham’s (MGB) Gene and Cell Therapy Institute (GCTI) for helping to advance new therapies and platforms to clinical and commercial settings.
These awards fund gene and cell therapy projects by MGB investigators who demonstrate tangible advancements toward clinical applications and commercialization outcomes, including licensing, partnerships or new company creation.
With this award, Todd aims to validate the use of focused ultrasound technology to temporarily and noninvasively open the blood-brain barrier and deliver a novel gene therapy directly to a small target within the brain. Funding from the GCTI Spark Grant will allow his team to characterize how effective this approach works and demonstrate proof-of-concept gene knock-down/replacement in two clinically relevant diseases.
Renthal, director of Research at the John R. Graham Headache Center,. focuses his research on the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying migraine and chronic pain. Funding from the GCTI Spark Grant will allow his team to continue developing an innovative adeno-associated virus-based gene therapy approach for the long-term management of intractable pain.
The Gene and Cell Therapy Institute unites more than 400 researchers and clinicians dedicated to advancing gene and cell therapy. Led by renowned cardiac gene therapy pioneer Roger Hajjar, MD, the GCTI accelerates groundbreaking research, conducts clinical trials and facilitates the development of federally approved treatments.
