Neurological Disorders

Guangping Gao

Guangping Gao, PhD
Professor
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Microbiology & Physiology Systems Penelope Booth Rockwell Professor in Biomedical Research Director, Gene Therapy Center and Vector Core, USA

Biography

Dr. Guangping Gao is the Director of the Gene Therapy Center and Penelope Booth Rockwell Professor in Biomedical Research, UMass Medical School. He received his Bachelor Degree in Medicine from Sichuan University, China, and his Ph.D. in molecular genetics at Florida International University with his work on discovering the human aspartoacylase gene and the genetic mutations responsible for Canavan disease. Dr. Gao joined the Institute for Human Gene Therapy (IHGT) at University of Pennsylvania in 1994 and served as the Director of Vector Program of IHGT to oversee the vector discovery, process development, vector manufacturing and QC testing. One of his most important contributions to the field of gene therapy is the discovery of a novel family highly efficient and safe AAV vectors. His primary research interests include molecular mechanisms of AAV evolution, microRNA functional genomics in adult mammals, biology and clinical application of miRNA therapeutics, and gene therapy of CNS disorders using rAAVs to cross BBB for global CNS gene transfer. He has published more than 130 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has 26 patented inventions. Dr. Gao served on several international committees for gene therapy. He is the senior editor of the Book Series on Gene and Cell Therapy publishing by ASGCT and Springer Publisher and serves on Advisory Board of Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology.

Research Interest

Dr. Guangping Gao primary research interests include molecular mechanisms of AAV evolution, microRNA functional genomics in adult mammals, biology and clinical application of miRNA therapeutics, and gene therapy of CNS disorders using rAAVs to cross BBB for global CNS gene transfer.